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Choosing the ideal technology for Your Hearing Lifestyle
Private
Minimial Background Noise
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Activities of a Private Lifestyle Include:
- Quiet Conversation
- Door Bell
- Phone Ringing
- Alarms (Clock, Security, Timers, etc.)
A private lifestyle needs ECONOMY TECHNOLOGY
Designed for very calm lifestyles, economy technology provides appropriate performance for communication in mostly quiet, less demanding listening situations where background noise is minimal. Ideal for thosewith a private, tranquilhearing lifestyle.
Quiet
Occasional Background Noise
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Activities of a Quiet Lifestyle Include:
- Home Telephone
- Driving
- Religious Services
- Adult Conversations
- Small Family Gatherings
- Quiet Restaurants
A quiet lifestyle needs BASIC TECHNOLOGY
Designed for someone who is social and around environments with minimal to moderate background noise. Ideal for those who prefer to mostly relax at home with occasional social outings where less annoying background noise is present. Basic technology can adequately handle a quieter hearing lifestyle.
Active
Moderate Background Noise
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Activities of an Active Lifestyle Include:
- Bluetooth® Cell Phones
- Shopping
- Movie Theaters
- Health Clubs
- Small Group Meetings
- Conversations with Children
- Television
- Open/Reverberant Home
- iPod®/Personal
A active lifestyle needs ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Designed for active lifestyles to provide excellent flexibility and performance in a variety of listening environments. Advanced Technology is perfectly suited for those who enjoy many activities in less crowded environments with only moderate levels of background noise.
Dynamic
Frequent Background Noise
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Activities of a Dynamic Lifestyle Include:
- Outdoor Activities
- Entertainment Venues (Casinos, Exhibit Halls, etc.)
- Busy Restaurants
- Frequent Social Gatherings
- Smart Phones
- Conference Calls
- Multimedia Connectivity(Home Theater, Computer, Phone, etc.)
- Travel & Airports
- Concerts & Arts
- Group Presentations
A dynamic lifestyle needs PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY
Designed for dynamic lifestyles, providing optimum flexibility and performance in a broadrange of demandinglistening environments.From attending meetingsand social events to relaxingand reading a book,premium technology isdesigned for use in a muchwider variety of listening environments, including those with higher levels ofbackground noise.
Hearing Aid Styles to Fit Your Needs
Hearing technology has experienced rapid and considerable change in recent years. That change has made hearing aids:
- More cosmetically appealing than ever before
- Provide a higher quality of sound due to the use of digital rather than analog processing
- More automated and easy to use
- Provide more comfort and many options
HEARING AID STYLES
Many of today’s hearing aids are smaller than a dime. Some are virtually invisible! Even the more powerful hearing devices that traditionally sit behind one’s ear are available in “miniature” styles. Your hearing professional will help you choose the size that is correct for you based on your level of hearing loss, your lifestyle and your manual dexterity. Hearing aid styles get their names from where they sit on your ear. Once you know that, their names are easy to remember.
RECEIVER-IN-THE-EAR (RITE)/OPEN-FIT OR OVER-THE-EAR (OTE) HEARING AIDS
This style of hearing device is the most popular today due to their inconspicuous nature andexcellent sound quality. The receiver is built into a soft open dome and placed inside the ear canal with thin electrical wires replacing the acoustic tube of conventional BTEs.
COMPLETELY-IN-THE-CANAL HEARING AIDS (CIC)
CIC hearing instruments are customized to fit deep within the ear canal and are nearly invisible. However, they are not suitable for those who have severe hearing loss or who would have difficulty handling a tiny battery.
IN-THE-CANAL HEARING AIDS (ITC)
Slightly larger than the CIC, ITC instruments are also custom-made and fill the bottom half of the external ear. Only barely noticeable to those in face-to-face conversation, the IT Causes a slightly larger battery than the CIC style.
IN-THE-EAR HEARING AIDS (ITE)
ITE hearing instruments fit in the bowl of the outer ear (concha) and are custom-fit for the individual. Usually visible when facing another person, ITEs can accommodate large sound amplifiers and offer more features. Their sizemakes them easier to handle and allows the use of a longer lasting battery.
BEHIND-THE-EAR HEARING AIDS (BTE)
In general, BTEs are more powerful than smaller hearing devices due to the stronger amplifier and larger battery. In BTE instruments the electronics sit behind the ear and the sound is directed through a tube into the ear canal. BTE are also offered in a miniature size.
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