If you haven't heard of the new OTICON REAL hearing devices, you are missing out. Improved background noise and sudden noise suppression. Direct connection to iPhone and connection to Android phones with a Connect Clip accessory. Patients report the best hearing they have had in years. Real 1, Real 2, and Real 3 are also available in rechargeable options.
Hearing aids are available in many styles, some of which are listed below: Digital hearing aids, digitally programmable hearing aids, programmable and conventional hearing aids are available in most styles.
RIC - Receiver in the canal/virtually invisible option for BTE
Slim Tube BTE - Virtually invisible mini or micro BTE instrument
BTE - Behind-The-Ear (coupled to a custom earmold)
ITE - In-The-Ear
ITC - In-the-Canal
CIC - Completely In-The-Canal
After a thorough evaluation of your hearing, Dr. Barnard will discuss the test results with you and provide you with recommendations about amplification options.
DIGITAL HEARING AIDS offer the most advanced technology available. With digital hearing aid technology, you can expect a cleaner, quieter sounding hearing aid. Digital hearing aids have complete flexibility and fine-tuning capabilities to provide you with the hearing aid and hearing you want.
PROGRAMMABLE HEARING AIDS offer a more advanced technology than conventional hearing aids. These instruments allow adjustments and fine-tuning for a given patient's amplification needs. The technology in these instruments are primarily analog conventional ciruits.
CONVENTIONAL HEARING AIDS (analog) use basic analog technology to provide quality amplification to patients with a wide degree of hearing loss. These instruments provide the same amount of amplification to all levels of sound intensity. Some users report that conventional hearing aids provide either too little or too much sound.
Custom Swim Plugs
Custom floatable swim plugs are available for all ages. Choose from "Instant" swim plugs or "instant" sound protection plugs or "Factory made" plugs to protect your hearing or your child's ears after ear tube surgery.
Children who have had chronic ear infections and have ventilation tubes in place should use caution when swimming or bathing without protection. Very young children (infants) who are not overly "active" in the water may not need to use water precautions. Check with your physician.
Custom Hearing Protection
Custom sound protection devices are available for the shooting enthusiast or others who want to protect their hearing from noise in the workplace. Many different styles are available.
Hearing loss caused by long term noise exposure is often gradual and goes un-noticed by the person with hearing loss. Others begin to notice that the person has difficulty hearing in background noise or hearing someone speak from a distance. Protect your hearing from dangerous noise, such as firearms, lawn mowers, blowers, wood-working tools. Get custom sound protection devices made.
Custom Communication Ear Molds
Does your job require you to talk on the telephone or radio? A custom communication earmold can make your life easier and make hearing in noisy backgrounds less difficult.
Custom Musician's Earplugs
Custom musician's earplugs from Westone are available with a variety of different ER filters to suit your needs.
Tinnitus
There IS Something you can do about Tinnitus
Tinnitus is described as a ringing, hissing or other noise heard in the ears or head, when there is no outside source for the sound. Tinnitus is NOT a disease, but a symptom of an underlying condition in some part of the body, the ear, the auditory nerve, the brain or elsewhere.
Here is a link to The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) website, which is a valuable resource for anyone seeking tinnitus answers and information. ATA provides local self-help group and professional resource lists, the quarterly journal "Tinnitus Today" and, perhaps most importantly, HOPE to thousands of Americans with tinnitus.
For millions of people, the cause of tinnitus is unknown. The most common KNOWN cause is exposure to loud noise. Tinnitus can also be caused by ear infections, ear wax (cerumen) buildup, the use aspirin, alcohol, certain antibiotics, allergies, Meniere's Disease, disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or injuries involving the head or neck (like whiplash).
Certain drugs, such as some of the "mycin" antibiotics, and some non-prescription drugs like aspirin, can cause tinnitus in certain people.
There are many treatment options for tinnitus. Some of the most common are:
Masking is the introduction of an external low-volume sound that reduces the perception of tinnitus. Maskers are similar to hearing aids and can be worn the same way.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a variation of masking combined with specialized and beneficial patient education and counseling.
If you think you have tinnitus, see an audiologist for a complete examination and evaluation of possible treatment options.
NOTE: If your tinnitus began suddenly or you noticed a sudden dramatic change in hearing you should pursue services from a medical doctor, ideally an otolaryngologist (ENT), prior to seeing an audiologist.
