Hearing Aids in Salem, OR

What are Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are small electronic devices that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder for a person with hearing loss. Although they will not restore hearing loss, hearing aids can greatly improve your hearing by amplifying sounds that you’ve had trouble hearing.

At Salem Hearing, our hearing aid center in Salem, OR, we specialize in providing comprehensive hearing tests, fitting services, and a wide range of hearing aids tailored to meet your specific needs. Visit our hearing aid center in Salem, OR, to find the perfect hearing aid solution for you.

Happy couple more connected because of hearing aids

What Styles of Hearing Aids are Available?

While most hearing aids perform in basically the same manner, different styles are available to accommodate your budget and your personal preferences. An important point to remember is that the smaller the hearing aid, the shorter its battery life and the more it will cost.

BTE Hearing Aids

This type of hearing aid hooks over your ear and lies behind the ear. The unit picks up amplified sound and carries it to a molded earpiece that fits within your ear canal. It will accommodate most ages and people and is suitable for all types of hearing loss. Because of its size it is the most visible of the hearing aid types, however, it can provide better sound amplification than the other types.

ITE Hearing Aids

Full shell, in-the-ear, style occupies the overall bowl-shaped area of a person’s outer ear and helps to address mild to severe hearing loss. It is however more visible, more susceptible to wind noise but, because of its larger batteries, will last longer.

ITC Hearing Aids

This type of hearing aid differs from the ‘Inside the ear’ types in that it does not fit as deeply in the ear canal. This enables it to have volume adjustment and other features. Because of the way it fits, it may not be suitable for small ears.

RIC Hearing Aids

With receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids, sometimes referred to as receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids, the speaker section is inserted in the ear canal, while the amplifier and microphone section rests behind the ear. This separation allows the components to remain small in size and easy to hide from view. RIC hearing aids have wireless capability and are often recommended for individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss.

Middle Ear Implants

An alternative for those who cannot wear conventional hearing aids is a middle ear implant. In this procedure, a microphone is positioned behind the ear and held in place with a magnet surgically-implanted beneath the skin. The microphone converts sound into vibrations, which are sent to a separate device surgically-implanted in the middle ear. This augments the wearer’s ability to hear without the need for a speaker. Middle ear implants are recommended for individuals who suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss, but also can be helpful for those who have severe allergies, frequent ear infections or very narrow ear canals.

Extended-Wear Hearing Aids

Another option to consider is extended-wear hearing aids, which are inserted deep in the ear canal. Extended-wear hearing aids can be worn for weeks or months at a time without being removed. Extended-wear hearing aids are best suited for adults with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. By placing the aid deep in the ear canal, distortion, feedback, wind noise and occlusion are all reduced when compared to hearing aids worn on the ear.

Why Should I Consider Hearing Aids?

Hearing loss can have a great impact on your life. Your hearing affects all areas of your life including your work, your relationships, and your emotional health. Hearing aids can make a big difference, especially if you pick the right ones and get help adjusting to them.

Many of the horror stories about hearing aids were due to lack of advancements in the computer technology realm. With profound improvements over the last decade, many setbacks about hearing aids are no longer relevant.

You may want to consider hearing aids, because you may not realize how poor your hearing has become, or you may find yourself asking others to repeat themselves frequently.

Salem Hearing Aid Center can listen to your concerns and help determine if hearing aids are right for you

Man wondering what kind of hearing aids he needs

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

Most hearing aids are now digital and powered with a traditional or a rechargeable battery.

Most of the older analog units are being phased out and hearing aids are sleeker than ever.

In a hearing aid, a small microphones collect sounds from the environment. A computer chip with an amplifier converts the incoming sound into digital code.

The hearing aid analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers, sometimes called receivers.

Your hearing aids can be uniquely programed to your hearing loss to give you the best outcome and improve your hearing.

What Should I Know Before Buying Hearing Aids?

With so many hearing aids available today, choosing the right one can be difficult and time-consuming. A hearing instrument specialist can help analyze your hearing loss and help you determine which hearing aid may be right for you.

Before you purchase:

  • Choose a reputable hearing instrument specialist
  • Be sure your hearing aid has a trial period
  • Understand the warranty and what it covers
  • Consider purchasing insurance to cover loss or breakage

Understanding the options available can make the process easier and help you select which one will best meet your needs.

Schedule An Appointment

We can help. At Salem Hearing Aid Center, we help find the perfect hearing solutions for people just like you. Our tailored approach combines advanced hearing testing to determine whether a hearing aid might help you, sophisticated technology and, most important, caring and experienced professionals dedicated to helping you get back what you have lost.