Learn About Our Flex Hearing Aid Trial Program

We Want To Make Choosing a Hearing Aid Easy

Choosing a Hearing Aid can be stressful. That’s why we offer the Flex Trial Program, so our patients can try it before they buy. We also offer many different hearing aid styles and hearing aid accessories from the top hearing aid manufacturers in the industry.

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Hearing Aid Styles

woman with cic

Receiver in the Canal or Slim Tube

Behind the Ear aids of this type are smaller, very thin, with an almost invisible wire or tube used to connect the aid to the ear canal. Mini BTEs and RICs may have a comfortable ear piece (dome) for insertion (“open fit”), but may also use a traditional earmold. Mini BTEs and RICs allow not only reduced occlusion or “plugged up” sensations in the ear canal, but also increase comfort and address cosmetic concerns for many users.

These aids can be used for mild to profound hearing loss and can often be used with assistive listening devices and accessories, such as handheld remotes, bluetooth enabled devices (telephones), In-Loop systems (movie theaters and airports), remote microphones (eliminating background noise) and iPhone/smart phone applications.

bte

Behind The Ear with Tube

Traditional BTE (“behind-the-ear”) aids consist of a larger case and an earmold with a wider tube connecting them. The case contains the electronics, controls, battery and microphone(s) thus eliminating ear wax from getting into the components. These more traditional BTEs are often used with more severe or profound hearing losses and for those with dexterity problems handling the smaller style of aids.

woman with half shell hearing aid

In the Ear

These devices fit in the outer ear bowl (called the concha) and are known as Full Shell (filling the whole concha) or In the Canal (ITC) filling the canal and part of the concha. ITE hearing aids are custom made to fit each individual’s ear and can be used in mild to profound hearing losses. Some models of ITE hearing aids can be connected wirelessly to assistive listening devices and accessories.

in ear slim

Completely in the Canal Hearing Aids

This style of hearing aids fits inside the ear canal completely. Due to the deeper fit, sound can be collected more naturally by the shape of the ear, and sent down into the ear canal as it would with unassisted hearing. Depending on the size, make and model, a few allow the wearer to use a remote or mobile phone to alter memory and volume settings. Due to the small size only a limited amount of accessories are available. These aid may not be suitable for all patients or all types of hearing loss.

Hearing Aid Accessories

Recent studies have proven that accessories are directly related to the benefit hearing aids can offer and patient satisfaction. Most hearing aids can connect wirelessly to assistive listening devices and accessories. Additionally, some hearing aid accessories may be included with the purchase of hearing aids. Today there are a variety of accessories that can be used with many hearing aids to help in movie theaters, with television, telephones, and for understanding better in background noise. Not all hearing aids are compatible with every accessory, so check with your provider.

  • Loop Systems

    A Hearing Aid Loop consists of a physical loop of cable which is placed around a designated area, usually a room or a building. The cable generates a magnetic field throughout the looped space which can be picked up by a Hearing Aids T-Coil system (Telecoil). Typical installation sites include concert halls, ticket kiosks, auditoriums, places of worship, courtrooms, meeting rooms, high-traffic public buildings (For example Airport P.A. announcements), and in homes. Click Here to learn more and find a list of Business & organizations in the Grand Traverse Area that have a Hearing Loop System Installed.

  • Bluetooth

    When paired to your hearing aids Bluetooth technology it sends audio signals, settings, or digital information from your cell phone, TV transmitter, laptop computer, iPad, or Bluetooth companion microphone directly to your hearing aids or to a Bluetooth Streamer and then into your hearing aids. The most recent hearing aids allow you to connect directly to your smart phone.

  • TV Transmitter

    Sends the television signal directly to your hearing aids or to a Bluetooth Streamer and then into your hearing aids. A TV Transmitter allows you to hear the TV at your preferred volume while everyone else can listen to it at whatever is comfortable for them. While at the same time the sounds in the room are also amplified. For example, a user can hear the television program and the conversation in the room at the same time.

  • Remote Control

    Allows you to control volume and change programs on your hearing aids. Some of the most recent hearing aids allow your cell phone to be used as a remote control.

  • Companion Microphone

    Allows a companion, lecturer, minister, or others to send their voice directly into your hearing aids. The volume of their voice can be adjusted to be louder than background noise to give you better understanding. For example, in a loud crowded restaurant a companion microphone can isolate the audio to the table you’re sitting at and not the surrounding conversations.

Ask Us About Hearing Aid Accessories

Insurance Programs

Family Hearing Care is committed to transparency and helping patients get the most out of their insurance benefits. We strive to get the most accurate and up to date coverage by verifying patient benefits when details are provided prior to appointments. Because insurance benefits are a contract between the patient and insurance company, coverage quoted is based on knowledge given to us from the insurer and therefore not a guarantee of payment. To see if we work with your insurance carrier or hearing care plan, please call our office for assistance. Our friendly and informed staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

  • Medicare
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Networks
  • Priority Health Network
  • United Health Care
  • TruHearing

Contact Us About Your Insurance Plan

Hearing Aid Manufacturers

Unitron Hearing

Unitron Hearing Inc. designs and manufactures hearing instruments in all styles and technology levels. Unitron also offers convenient and specialized wireless accessories and assistive listening devices that help people hear in particular noisy listening situations or when on the telephone, watching TV, or in the car.

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Phonak

Phonak Inc. is one of the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, offering a full range of hearing aid styles. Phonak is a Swiss company known for cutting-edge technology and style. The Phonak product line begins with an affordable basic model using key features such as feedback suppression, directional microphones, and background noise suppression.

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Widex

Widex is the world’s sixth largest hearing aid manufacturer. In close collaboration with international audiological researchers and specialists, the company has developed a wide range of digital hearing aids, including the world’s first 100% digital in-the-ear hearing aid in 1995.

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GN ReSound

GN ReSound is one of the world’s largest providers of hearing aids and diagnostic audiological instrumentation, represented in more than 80 countries. Headquartered in Ballerup, Denmark, GN ReSound is part of GN Store Nord. ReSound was founded by Dr. Rodney Perkins of Stanford University in 1984.

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Starkey Laboratories

Starkey, In 1967 William F. (Bill) Austin owned a 30 employee hearing aid repair company. He purchased a very small ear mold laboratory named Starkey and the rest is hearing history. Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is now one of the world’s leaders in manufacturing custom hearing instruments. Begun in 1978, the Hearing Foundation has provided over 20,000 hearing aids to patients in need each year.

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Signia

Signia is one of the leading hearing aid brands in the world. Their goal is to enhance hearing through iconic innovations in the industry. They don’t accept hearing loss as a limitation and know that the conservation should be about about gaining an edge and hearing better than ever.

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Oticon

Oticon was founded in 1904 in Denmark by Hans Demant whose wife was hearing impaired. Oticon manufactures hearing aids with features like ‘Speech Guard’ (which delivers more natural sounding speech), ‘Spatial Sound'(which preserves your ability to know where a sound is coming from) and Connectivity (which links you to TV, computers and smartphones).

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