World class hearing aid technologies

Meenakshi Speech and Hearing Clinic has the cutting-edge ear technology solutions and is fully equipped with latest state-of-the-art computerized testing equipment, highly sophisticated hearing aids and a well-furnished setup for Audiological and Speech Tests. Audiological evaluations in a scientifically designed soundproof double room to ensure accuracy and include having a person respond to both sounds and speech.

How Do We Hear

How our ear functions and how brain receives and perceives sound impulses hold the key to better understanding of hearing and hearing loss. The process of hearing starts with a properly functional outer ear that collects the sound waves emitted from a source and passes it through ear canal to the eardrum. The impact of sound waves on the eardrum creates vibration, which further results in movement of three bones located in the middle ear.

The movement of the bones, especially of stapes, which is also the smallest of the three, results in vibration of the oval window situated between middle and the inner ear. This vibration impacts the fluid in the inner ear which further transmits the signals to cochlea, the organ which is responsible for hearing. The vibration of the fluid inside the inner ear bends the hair cells that act as receptors. The bending of these cells triggers impulses that are transmitted to the brain through auditory nerves. Brain on receiving the impulse translates into the sound and comprehends it for further processes.

Book Appointment Now!

What’s a Hearing Aid?

A hearing aid is an electronic device that amplifies sound and is worn to compensate for poor hearing. A hearing aid is a battery-powered, electronic device that makes listening easier for people with a hearing loss. A hearing aid consists of a microphone, an amplifier and a receiver. The microphone picks up sounds in your acoustic environment and turns them into electronic signals. The amplifier selectively amplifies the acoustic electronic signals. The receiver is a very small speaker that changes the electric signals back to sounds and delivers the sound to the ear.

Types of Hearing Aids

Behind The Ear (BTE)

BTE hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mould that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages.

A BTE hearing aid.

• Is the largest, most visible type of hearing aid, though some new versions are smaller, streamlined and barely visible .
• Is capable of more amplification than are other hearing aid styles

Open fit/ RIC Open fit/ RIC

These are very small BTE-style devices. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they are best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.

An open-fit hearing aid

• Is less visible
• Doesn’t plug the ear as the small in-the-canal hearing aids do
• Uses very small batteries
• Lacks manual adjustments due to the small size

In the ear (ITE)

These Custom Hearing aids rest inside the Ear. They are designed using a custom mould to fit your shape and come with a twin microphone design that improves their general sound quality and amplification.
An ITE hearing aid
• Having two microphones means that they produce better sound quality. This Hearing aid works with moderate to Severe Hearing Loss.
• It’s Visible from the outside as the size is bigger as compared to CIC or ITC.

In the canal (ITC)

These are custom moulded and fit partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the CIC. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

An ITC hearing aid

• Is less visible in the ear.

• Is easy to use with the telephone

Completely in canal (CIC)

These are moulded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

A CIC hearing aid

• Is the least noticeable in the ear

• Is less likely to pick up wind noise because the ear protects the instrument.

• Is easy to use with the telephone.

Invisible In Canal (IIC)

IIC is pretty similar to the Completely-In-the-Canal but it is hidden deeper in the ear. It got a few downsides as you can read below. The invisible-in-the-canal hearing aids are located much deeper in the canal and they are practically invisible even if you look directly into the ear. You got this tiny nylon thread so you can pull it out.

An IIC hearing aid
• Is custom made to ensure a perfect fit

• Is a tight fit means users can better determine where sounds are coming from

• has no joined parts mean there are no hard edges