Hearing Aids
With our award-winning aftercare and largest independent choice of aids.
Forget what you know about hearing aids. They are no longer the big, beige, bulky, whistling boomerangs, they are smaller, discreet, dinky devices. With the right guidance and a professional fitting, hearing aids are life changing.
We fit tiny hearing aids that fit snugly in your ear canal, or hearing aids that have Bluetooth for iPhone or Android compatibility. Some just want something simple, and we can do that, too!
There are hearing aids that suit every need.
Why choose us for your hearing aids?
We’re Independent
We are not tied to, or owned by a manufacturer – giving you unbeatable choice from the largest range of hearing aid types, styles and brands on the market. We dispense aids that suit your needs, not the needs of shareholders.
We provide the latest digital aids from all the leading manufacturers including ReSound, Starkey, Widex, Unitron, Oticon, Phonak, Signia, and more!
Which! has named Independent practices as the best providers for 2023, again.
We’re A Family Practice
Our practice has been established for over 20 years, and is still being run and owned by Martyn, his wife Pippa, and son Mike.
We have built a small team over many years and we strive to provide you with a continuity of care – allowing you to build a relationship with your Audiologist.
You’re not just a number: we do not keep any hearing aids in stock – each hearing aid fitted has been made bespoke to each individual based on their own requirements, preferences and other variables.
Evidence-based Hearing Aid Fitting
Although hearing aids have made significant advances in recent years, they only work for you if the settings are correct. It’s essential that the devices are programmed and fitted correctly to your individual hearing prescription, otherwise you may only receive a fraction of the potential benefit.
At Hearing Aid Solutions, we use best practice, and evidence based protocols such as Real Ear Measurements (REMs) and speech in noise testing to guarantee the best possible outcome for your hearing.
Hearing aid styles
All of our packages allow you to choose from any of our digital hearing aid styles, including our invisible hearing aids.
Receiver in canal (RIC)
RIC hearing aids have a component behind the ear connected to a receiver in the ear canal by a thin wire. They combine functionality and a discreet appearance, for a sleek design that ensures natural sound quality.
Pros:
– Arguably the most discreet type of hearing aid, as there is only a thin wire visible from the front.
– Bluetooth – these hearing aids are able to stream phone calls, music, podcasts and more from your smartphone straight into your ears.
– Fitting range: suitable from mild to severe hearing losses (if fitted with a small custom piece at the end of the wire).
– Available as rechargeable or battery operated.
Cons:
– Can be tricky to get if your ears if you have poor dexterity.
Behind the ear (BTE)
BTE hearing aids have a main component that sits comfortably behind your ear, connected to a custom-moulded earmold inside your ear canal or the bowl of your ear. These earmolds are shaped to fit your ear precisely, ensuring great sound and comfort. BTE aids are designed to handle a wide range of hearing losses and provide a robust, versatile solution.
Pros:
– Robust: the electronic components are above your ear, which means you’re able to clean the earmould without risking damage. This is important for those with ear drum perforations or frequent infections.
– Bluetooth: these hearing aids are able to stream phone calls, music, podcasts and more from your smartphone straight into your ears.
– Fitting range: the strongest hearing aids on the market – they are suitable from mild to profound hearing losses.
– Available as rechargeable or battery operated.
Cons:
– BTE hearing aids are larger than most other hearing aids.
In the canal (ITC)
ITC hearing aids sit just in the entrance to your ear canal. They are discreet, easy to handle and can fit a wide variety of hearing losses. You can choose the colour depending on preference.
Pros:
– Easy to handle and adjust due to their size.
– Bluetooth: these hearing aids are able to stream phone calls, music, podcasts and more from your smartphone straight into your ears.
– Available as rechargeable or battery operated.
– They work well with phones due to their placement in the ear.
– They have dual microphones which can help you hear in noisy environments.
Cons:
– As they live in your ear canal, they require you to clean them thoroughly and frequently.
In the ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids sit in the bowl of your ear, and are slightly larger than their ITC siblings. They are easy to handle, have a range of accessibility tools, and can fit a wide variety of hearing losses.
You can choose the colour depending on preference.
Pros:
– Easy to handle and adjust due to their size.
– Bluetooth: these hearing aids are able to stream phone calls, music, podcasts and more from your smartphone straight into your ears.
– Available as rechargeable or battery operated.
– They work well with phones due to their placement in the ear.
– They have dual microphones which can help you hear in noisy environments.
Cons:
– As they live in your ear canal, they require you to clean them thoroughly and frequently.
– Less discreet than their ITC siblings.
Completely in the canal (CIC)
Similar to in the canal (ITC) devices, these hearing aids also sit inside the ear canal but are smaller and sit slightly further down the ear canal.
You can choose the colour depending on preference.
Completely in the canal hearing aids are suitable for mild to moderate hearing losses.
Pros:
– Extremely discreet.
– They work well with phones due to their placement in the ear.
– Limited wind noise due to placement in the ear.
Cons:
– No Bluetooth connection to phone, or connectivity to remote controls etc.
– Battery life: they use the smallest batteries so expect them to last 3-4 days before needing changing.
Assistive devices
Hearing aids are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to listening success: degree of hearing loss, ability to lip read, background noise, the speaker, and how your brain processes sound are examples of variables influencing your success.
Some devices will play the sound of your TV directly into your ears, or help you pick out the speaker when you’re at a table at a restaurant.
Assistive devices start at £125.
We fit all hearing aids with Real Ear Measurements (REMs)
What are REMs?
REMs help the audiologist verify what exactly is going on acoustically inside the ear canal. It’s the gold standard of fitting hearing aids and is best practice. It’s like taking a suit to the tailors.
Without performing REMs, you don’t know what information is being put into the ear canal.
This informative video by Dr Cliff Olson explains the benefits and why your hearing aid provider should fit your hearing aid using REMs:
