Hearing Aids in Fairbanks, AK
Determining the Best Hearing Aids for Your Level of Hearing Loss
At Aurora Audiology in Fairbanks, AK, we believe hearing well is essential to staying connected to the people and places you love. Our goal is to help you find a hearing aid that fits your lifestyle, comfort preferences, and unique hearing needs.
Because every ear — and every type of hearing loss — is different, the “best” hearing aid for you depends on the results of your hearing test and your daily listening environments. If a hearing aid doesn’t match your hearing profile, it won’t perform as expected — which is why every consultation at Aurora Audiology begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation.
Which Types of Hearing Aids Are Best for Me?
The severity of your hearing loss, the shape of your ear, and your listening goals are all important factors when selecting a hearing aid. Based on your test results, your Fairbanks audiologist may recommend one of the following styles:
BTE Hearing Aids
A behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid sits comfortably over the top of your ear, with the main components—including the battery, microphones, and digital processor, and speaker/receiver—housed in the portion that rests behind the ear. It connects to a hook and a plastic tube that leads to a custom-made earpiece, which fits in your ear canal and delivers sound directly to your auditory system. BTE hearing aids are suitable for people of all ages with moderate to severe hearing loss and are especially beneficial for children, whose ears grow quickly and require easily replaceable earpieces. Most individuals can insert and remove BTE devices independently, making them a convenient option for daily wear. Modern BTE models often include wireless connectivity and rechargeable batteries, allowing users to stream audio from smartphones or tablets and reducing the need for frequent battery changes.
RIC Hearing Aids
Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids—also known as receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) devices—are similar to behind-the-ear models in that most of the main components (the battery, microphones, and digital processor) sit in a small casing that rests behind the ear. A thin wire extends from this casing to the receiver (speaker), which is placed directly in the ear canal. Separating the receiver from the other components allows the behind-the-ear portion to remain compact, lightweight, and discreet. RIC hearing aids typically include wireless connectivity, offer rechargeable battery options, and are now available in waterproof designs. They are commonly recommended for individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss.
ITC Hearing Aids
In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are custom-made to match the unique shape of your ear and come in several discreet style options. Although a small portion remains visible, these devices are generally unobtrusive. Styles include completely-in-canal (CIC) models, as well as invisible-in-canal (IIC) devices. CIC hearing aids can be customized for comfort and fit, though they often sacrifice wireless features to maintain their compact, discreet design. IIC hearing aids sit deep within the ear canal, making them virtually invisible when worn. ITC, CIC, and IIC devices are typically recommended for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, they should be used cautiously by those with high-frequency–specific hearing loss, as these styles fully occlude the ear canal and may affect sound quality. While some CIC models are available with rechargeable technology, most devices in these categories rely on disposable batteries.
ITE Hearing Aids
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are custom-made based on the shape of your ear and are available in two style options: full-shell, which fills the entire outer ear, and half-shell, which occupies only the lower portion of the outer ear. Both options are suitable for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss, especially those who have difficulty keeping behind-the-ear components in place or who prefer an in-ear style due to occupational safety gear requirements. ITE devices offer advantages for people who experience dexterity challenges, as they are easier to handle than smaller receiver-in-canal (RIC) models. They are available in wireless and rechargeable versions, as well as traditional battery-powered, non-wireless options.
Why should I Consider Digital, Prescriptively-Fit Hearing Aids:
An analog hearing aid amplifies sound so your ear receives it at a louder volume. A digital hearing aid digitizes the sounds you hear. That means it goes the extra step of eliminating background noises and frequencies that interfere with the sounds you’re trying to focus on. An analog hearing aid acts as a microphone and speaker, but digital hearing aids can perform more complex functions – such as separating speech from background noise, and changing the frequency of sounds to make them more easily discernible and pleasing to the ear.
Digital hearing aids have many benefits over analog hearing aids including:
- Digital hearing aids enhance the sound of speech, and greatly reduce bothersome background noise, to ensure you hear the person talking to you.
- Digital hearing aids are better able to eliminate feedback – the loud ringing sound that sometimes emanates from an analog hearing aid.
- The volume level of a digital hearing aid automatically adjusts to changes in the environment so you don’t have to make manual adjustments.
Do I Need Bluetooth Hearing Aids?
Most hearing aid manufacturers produce hearing aids that utilize Bluetooth technology to connect with smartphones, tablets and music-streaming devices. Bluetooth technology provides these capabilities without overly draining battery life, which can be important if this is a feature you anticipate using a lot. Other hearing aids allow you to connect to Bluetooth using an additional device called a streamer.
Aren’t All Hearing Aids Wireless?
Most modern hearing aids don’t feature any visible wires, cables or cords. The term “wireless” indicates that the hearing aid can communicate with other electronic devices – including smartphones, computer tablets, smart TVs and streaming devices. If you have two hearing aids they are also able to communicate with each other. Non-wireless hearing aids are unable to communicate with other electronic devices or receive streaming audio.
Wireless hearing aids allow you to:
- Hear speech, music or sounds in both ears simultaneously, even if the sound was initially picked up by only one of the hearing aids.
- Change the volume in both hearing aids by simply pressing a button.
- Exclude any unwanted ambient noise in the room that may interfere with comfortable listening.
- Create custom settings for unique sound environments – such as a noisy restaurant or busy shopping mall.
- Stream television shows, movies, internet radio stations and podcasts directly to the hearing aids without static or distortion.
- Adjust the volume of a television without increasing the volume for other listeners (though you may need a streaming accessory).
- Increase the clarity of speech or music over unwanted background noise.
- Add a remote control to adjust the hearing aid volume, or switch between electronic devices that provide streaming music or sound.
Are Hearing Aids Covered by Insurance?
Insurance coverage for hearing aids can vary widely depending on your plan and provider. At Aurora Audiology in Fairbanks, our team will help you check your insurance benefits and explore options to make your hearing aids as affordable as possible.
If you’re not sure what your plan covers, give us a call — we’ll walk you through your options and help you take the next step toward better hearing.