Digital hearing aid technology comes in various styles (“the appearance”) and technologies (“level of function in background noise").  Most levels of technology can be purchased in any style of hearing aid.  During a Hearing Aid Evaluation session Dr. Macielinski will thoroughly review digital hearing aids.  Also during that appointment the patient will wear actual digital hearing aids programmed for the patient’s specific hearing loss.  We at Suburban Audiology & Balance Center, LLC feel this is only way a patient can be comfortable in selecting the right hearing aid for their lifestyle.  Hearing aids range in cost from about $1,275 to $3,500 per ear for high quality digital hearing aids. 

Hearing Aid Styles

Open BTE: Open Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids use tiny casing and a nearly invisible slim tube. Open fittings offer a cosmetically appealing option. They are lightweight and tiny, with a transparent dome that makes them less noticeable than aids with custom earmolds.

BTE: Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids typically have more power than any of the custom made in-the-ear aids. BTEs "sit" on the back of your ear. They are connected to custom-made earmolds or can now also be fitted with an invisible slim tube.

ITE: In-The-Ear hearing aids hearing aids house the entire battery and circuit in the outer ear and/or ear canal.  All are custom fit from an impression of the patient’s ear.

CIC: Completely-In-the-Canal hearing aids require a "removal string" due to their small size and their deep fit into the ear canal. CIC hearing aids all are custom from an impression of the patient’s ear.

Hearing Aid Technologies

Basic Level Digital Technology:

• Excellent Performance in Mild to Moderate Noise (intelligent directional microphone)
• Excellent Comfort in Noise (steady state background noise reduction in 3 channels)
• Excellent Sound Quality (soft sounds audible and loud sounds comfortable)
• No need to use a volume control
• No acoustic feedback in almost all situations
• Excellent hearing of soft and distant speech
• Excellent battery life

Mid Level Digital Technology:

• Outstanding Performance in Mild to Moderate Noise (intelligent directional microphone)
• Outstanding Comfort in Noise (steady state background noise reduction in 5 channels)
• Outstanding Sound Quality (soft sounds audible and loud sounds comfortable)
• No need to use a volume control
• No acoustic feedback in almost all situations
• Outstanding hearing of soft and distant speech
• Excellent battery life

Upper Mid Level Digital Technology:

• Exceptional Performance in Mild to Severe Background Noise (multi channel directional microphone)
• Exceptional Comfort in Noise (steady state background noise reduction in 10-12 channels)
• Exceptional Sound Quality (soft sounds audible and loud sounds comfortable)
• No need to use a volume control
• No acoustic feedback in almost all situations
• Exceptional hearing of soft and distant speech
• Excellent battery life

Upper Digital Technology:

• Ultimate Performance in Mild to Extreme Noise (multi channel directional microphone)
• Ultimate Comfort in Noise (noise reduction in 15-20 channels)
• Ultimate Sound Quality (soft sounds audible and loud sounds comfortable)
• No need to use a volume control
• No acoustic feedback in almost all situations
• Ultimate hearing of soft and distant speech
• Excellent battery life