At Wake Forest Baptist Health, we offer the most current and technologically advanced hearing aids in a wide variety of styles and options.
Our Hearing Aid Services
Our experienced team of audiologists works with you from the initial consultation to fitting and follow-up to ensure that the selection of your hearing aid is based on your specific hearing loss issues, daily activities and your preferences about style and size. We offer:
- Hearing aid consultation, evaluation and fitting for infants, children and adults
- Hearing aid adjustments and reprogramming
- Electroacoustic verification of hearing aid performance (state-of-the-art testing for accurate fitting)
- Hearing aid cleaning and repairs
- Thirty-day trial period for new hearing aid fittings
- Hearing aids available for loan
In addition to hearing aids, we also offer:
- Custom earmolds, including noise protection, water protection, musician and iPod® earmolds
- Anesthesia monitoring earmolds that anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists use to listen to breath sounds
- Assistive listening technology, such as amplified phones, televisions, FM systems and alerting devices
Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids have improved greatly with the advent of digital technology. Today's instruments are smaller, more comfortable and provide sound that is more natural. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, so finding one that appeals to your lifestyle needs and cosmetic preferences should be easy.
We have the latest technology, including ReSound LiNX™, a hearing aid that connects to the Apple iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®. You can stream music, phone calls, movies and more through wireless stereo headphones that are actually your hearing aids.
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
This hearing aid is placed in the ear canal and is the smallest available. It takes advantage of the ear's natural ability to collect sound and its discreet size makes the device virtually invisible to others. The tradeoff is a shorter battery life and it may prove difficult to adjust for those with poor manual dexterity. This is a good choice for mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Canal (ITC)
This style is also designed to fit in the ear canal, but not as deeply as a CIC device, resting securely in the lower portion instead. It's a little larger, making it easier to insert and remove, and extending the battery life. This style is best for patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
This hearing aid is designed to fill the outer portion of the ear and is larger than those worn in the ear canals. It is less discreet, but the size allows for more features and makes the unit easier to adjust. A bigger battery translates to longer life and those with severe or profound hearing loss can benefit from this style.
Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE)
A RITE hearing aid consists of a tiny housing, containing all electronics except the receiver, which is positioned behind the ear. A thin tube connects the housing to the receiver, which is worn in the concha (bowl-shaped portion) of the ear. It's a small and discreet unit, but powerful enough for treating mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
The most popular style of hearing aid (about 60 percent of users choose this type), a BTE device is curved to match the contour of the ear, and rests directly behind the ear. The housing, which contains all the electronics, is encased in plastic and connects to the ear canal with a thin, clear tube or ear mold. Though more visible than other styles, the BTE is simple to use, making it a popular choice for children. It's powerful enough for all types of hearing loss.
Open Fit
The Open Fit hearing aid is a smaller version of the BTE. Like that device, it rests behind the ear and includes a transparent tube that delivers sound to the ear canal through a very small earpiece. Because the ear canal is left unobstructed, there is less occlusion with this style and the smaller size appeals to many adults. Prone to low frequency noise leakage, this style is best for mild-to-moderate hearing loss in high frequency ranges only.
Extended Wear Hearing Aids
A recent innovation in hearing aids is the development of extended wear devices. These are placed deep in the ear canal and designed to stay in place for anywhere from 1 to 4 months at a time without removal. Because they are positioned so close to the eardrum, extended wear hearing aids offer improved sound directionality and reduced feedback, and their design prevents damage from moisture and earwax. These are particularly appealing to those with active lifestyles and can be worn while showering, exercising and sleeping. They are completely invisible to others.
Hearing Aid Accessories
We carry all sizes of Rayovac® ProLine hearing aid batteries. We also have maintenance supplies, including Dry & Store®, an electronic conditioning system that removes moisture, kills germs and deodorizes to help extend the life and performance of your hearing aids.