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Hearing Aids - Open Ear Acoustics

Many clients who require help with hearing aids have inner ear hearing impairment, and may find that they are having problems more with clarity than volume. This type of client will often have impairment in their higher frequency hearing range and the lower frequencies of their hearing can often be quite good or near normal.

This type of hearing configuration is often seen in hearing losses associated with just growing older or through noise damage.

Often these clients will struggle to get used to hearing aids which occlude the ear, or block the ear canal such as an in the ear hearing aid or a classic behind the ear hearing aid because the natural blockage of the ear canal naturally emphasizes the low frequency sounds which of course is not the area that requires attention for this client, the end result can be a feeling of blockage and dissatisfaction with one’s own voice, this problem is called the occlusion effect.

Strategies employed to help resolve the occlusion effect can be to drill a hole through the shell or ear mould to allow a better higher frequency response and to create a feeling of less pressure, but often these strategies of venting only make small differences.

With the dawn of much more sophisticated digital technology we have recently seen many more open fittings to this type of client group, open fitting’s are where the client is fitted to a very discreet tube which is discreetly placed in the ear, behind the ear is a tiny processor which is programmed for the clients hearing needs. Because the ear has only a very thin tube inside the ear to deliver the sound the ear is deemed to be open so therefore the effect of occlusion is negligible and the client will find that the higher frequencies are more pronounced and the clarity and sharpness in speech are much improved.

This technology has become very popular and successful; our user acceptance level is exceptionally high with this fitting strategy both from a performance and cosmetic perspective.

Custom made Hearing Aids

Having hearing aids made that are in the ear and smaller than conventional behind the hearing aids have been available for a long time in the private sector and if someone’s hearing suits this type or product then a trial can be arranged here at 150 Harley Street.

In the last few years there has been huge advancements in the way that these types of systems are made, primarily using lasers to make the fittings as successful as possible, to have a system made like this the journey begins with an assessment of hearing, if a prospective client wishes to go ahead and have a system made for them then an impression will be needed of the ears to get an accurate anatomical image of the individual’s ear canal and its contours.

Most Hearing Aid manufacturers now have the technology to scan these impressions thus allowing a computer to structure and manufacture the hearing aid or shell. This laser scanning system is a technique which used to be done by hand; the advantages this technology has given us are a better cosmetic fit, a faster manufacturing time and a better placement of the microphones on the product.

This Technology combined with the massive technical advancements within the hearing aid technology means that 150 Harley Street can offer the very latest precision fitted hearing aids.