HOW TO CHOOSE A HEARING AID

Jones Hearing wants to be with you every step of the way on your path to better hearing. Each of our centers provides all the services you will need for evaluation, fitting, counseling, maintenance and repair of your hearing aid. We are committed to hiring educated professionals, who are familiar with the newest technology in hearing assistance, and to have that technology available for you.

• Choosing the "Best" Hearing Aids
  • Types of Hearing Aids
  • Styles of Hearing Aids
  • Other Hearing Assistance Devices Available
• What should I discuss with my professional before purchasing hearing aids?
• What should I avoid when shopping for a hearing aid?

You may also wish to visit these pages for more information:

• Speak to a Jones Hearing Professional
• Shop Around
• Why Choose Jones Hearing

Choosing the "Best" Hearing Aids

Jones Hearing does not sell “cheap” or “discount” hearing aids, because they are not satisfactory solutions to your hearing problem. If you have been diagnosed with a hearing loss, your audiologist or hearing professional will engage you in dialogue to determine the type and style of hearing aid that best suits your type and degree of hearing loss, your lifestyle and your budget. We stock a large variety of brands and styles of hearing aids on-site, and you can be certain we will determine the one that is “best” for you as an individual. There is no “best” hearing aid on the market for everyone, only choices of what is most suitable for your individual case.

Jones Hearing believes that an educated customer is a successful and satisfied customer. If you presently have concerns about purchasing a hearing aid, please see the information below to assist you in making an informed decision for yourself or a loved one.

Types of Hearing Aids

There are two types of hearing aids currently available – digital and analog. These terms refer to the technology inside your hearing aid. To ensure that you or your loved one receives the required technology that ensures better hearing, Jones Hearing offers only digital hearing aids.

Digital Hearing Aids - Digital hearing aids represent the most advanced technology available. Advantages of digital technology include greater precision in adjustments and more complex sound processing. An audiologist has more flexibility in adjusting the aid to a user’s needs, pinpointing specific areas of loss. The user can set several listening modes (depending on their environment), automatic volume control, and feedback reduction. Digital hearing aids can be programmed to amplify some frequencies more than others. Digital circuitry can be used in all types of hearing aids.

There are three major types of digital hearing aid circuitry on the market today.

• High Definition Digital
  High Definition Digital hearing aids are very flexible and can be programmed to meet the needs of a wide range of hearing losses. The automatic features offer a “hands free” convenience with state-of-the-art technology.
• Advanced Digital
  These circuits have many of the same features of High Definition Digital hearing aids; the difference is that they require the user to activate them.
• Entry Level Digital
  Entry Level Digital hearing aids are suitable for most hearing losses, but offer fewer options and less flexibility than more advanced digital hearing aids. They are ideal for listening in quiet environments.

Extended Wear Hearing Aids - This type of hearing aid is placed deep in the ear canal by our trained hearing professional and can be worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for months at a time.*

Extended wear hearing aids are made of a soft material designed to contour to each user’s ear canal, with a range of canal width sizes to accommodate ear dimensions. Extended wear hearing aids are different from traditional hearing aids because it is placed deep in the ear canal, millimeters from the ear drum, and stays there for months at a time.*

The outer ear naturally directs sound towards the hearing device, where sound is then amplified close to your ear drum. Deep canal placement helps to improve directionality and localization (ability to determine where sounds are coming from), reduce feedback and occlusion (plugged feeling), minimize background noise, and helps to improve your ability to hear high frequency sounds. Once inserted, users can change the volume and settings using an adjustment tool.

*Can be worn for up to 120 days at a time. Individual replacement needs may vary.

Analog hearing aids - Analog hearing aids amplify sound by making the sound wave larger. They amplify all frequencies of sound coming into your ear, from the bass to the treble. Analog hearing aids constitute a very small minority of the hearing aid market and are not software programmable. Analog sound processing typically does not have the operating speed to allow advanced and automatic features such as automatic program switching or automatic feedback management. Due to these limitations, Jones Hearing no longer carries analog hearing aids.

Styles of Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids come in a variety of styles that describe how they are physically located in relation to the ear or ear canal.

• BTE: Behind-The-Ear units
  • The BTE style consists of two components – the hearing aid and the ear mold. The hearing aid rests on the back of your ear, connected to the ear mold via tubing. The ear mold is custom made from an ear impression to perfectly replicate the size and shape of your ear. BTE units are the largest hearing aids and are very reliable. They have the most circuit options and they typically offer more power than custom-made units. They are also more robust for active wearers. They are suitable for all types and degrees of hearing loss and for persons of all ages.
    • Open-Fit Mini BTE --The newest style available, the open-fit mini BTE combines many of the acoustic benefits of the larger styles with the cosmetic benefits of the smaller styles. Open-fit instruments consist of a small BTE device, a narrow, tube that hooks over and closely follows the contour of the front of the ear, and a soft, non-occluding ear piece that directs sound into the ear canal. The open fit allows natural sound to enter the ear canal, benefitting patients with good low frequency hearing. The instrument is very discreet and appealing to people with cosmetic concerns, and because it does not require custom molding, it often can be selected, programmed and fit in a single visit.
• ITE: In-The-Ear units
  • Often considered the most comfortable, least expensive, and easiest to operate, ITE hearing aids are the largest of the custom-made styles. The hearing aid is built into a custom-made shell made from an impression of the outer ear. It is most used for mild to moderate hearing losses and is not recommended for infants or young children,
• ITC: In-The-Canal units
  • Smaller than In-The-Ear units, ITC hearing aids fit only in the outer portion of the ear canal. ITCs are suitable for patients with an adequate sized ear canal, mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and no moisture or skin problems of the ear.
• CIC: Completely-In-the-Canal units
  • CIC units are the tiniest hearing aids. The hearing aid is built into a custom-made shell. They are cosmetically desirable because they fit deeply in the canal with minimal visibility. They need to be fitted with great precision and usually require a "removal string" because they fit so deeply in the ear canal. Owners should have good manual dexterity in order to place the units in their ears. Due to the sophistication of the programming, most adaptations to the hearing environment are made automatically for the wearer. Digital CICs are generally the most expensive amplification devices available.
• MC: Mini-Canal units
  • The MC units measure between the ITC and CIC in size. They provide the smallest possible hearing aid while providing manual control over the volume wheel or other controls. Owners should have good dexterity to adjust the controls.
• RIC – Receiver in Canal
  • This new hearing aid design physically separates the processor from the receiver/speaker. The design offers comfort and acoustic options, as the tiny processor is placed behind the ear and the receiver/speaker is placed deep in the ear canal.

Other Hearing Assistance Devices Available

• Directional microphones can help you hear what others are saying in noisy environments.
• Automatic feedback reduction can reduce the annoying squeal that some hearing aids make without a reduction in your listening volume.
• A telephone coil microphone allows you to access different listening devices that work in collaboration with your hearing aid.

What should I discuss with my hearing professional before purchasing a hearing aid?

• What, in writing, is the total cost of the hearing aids I have selected?
  • Jones Hearing will provide you with the complete cost of your chosen hearing aids, including any costs covered by your insurance or other health care coverage such as Medicaid.
    
• What part of this cost is covered by my insurance?
  • Jones Hearing is a licensed insurance provider in Texas. Every location is staffed with insurance specialists to research your insurance plan, to ensure that you understand the coverage it provides towards your hearing aids, and to help you to submit a claim. We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express or we will be happy to work out a payment plan with you.
• Do the benefits of newer technologies outweigh the higher costs?
  • This is your choice. Jones Hearing will recommend what technology will give you the most improvement to your hearing. You must determine if you can afford it.
• How long will it take to get my hearing aids?
  • Jones Hearing can provide many customers with hearing aids the same day, while you wait, depending on the style you choose. (Same day service is normally available for BTE and OTE aids only.)
• Is there a trial period to test the hearing aids? How long is this trial period?
  • All hearing aids provided by Jones Hearing Centers come with a 30 day trial.
• How long is the warranty? Can it be extended? How do I activate the warranty?
  • The warranties for most hearing aids stocked by Jones Hearing normally vary from 12 to 36 months and are activated by our staff when you receive your hearing aids. Warranties may be extended up to 5 years.
• Does the warranty cover maintenance and repairs? If so, for how long? Is there anything it doesn’t cover?
  • This varies. Please ask your Jones Hearing professional for the details.
• Can the audiologist adjust my hearing aids and make minor repairs?
  • Most Jones Hearing locations have a laboratory on-site, stocked with parts. Most minor repairs can be done while you wait. We stock hearing aid batteries for most brands and styles.
• What kinds of instruction and training will my hearing professional give me?
  • We want to earn your loyalty for life. Regaining better hearing is a process. The professionals at Jones Hearing will help you every step of the way.
• Will I be taught the proper care and maintenance of my new hearing aid?
  • Jones Hearing will schedule one or more follow up visits during the 30 day trial period during which we will discuss any problems or concerns you are experiencing and make any needed adjustments to your hearing aid’s programming.

What should I avoid when shopping for a hearing aid?

• Beware of “cheap” or “discount” hearing aids. Audiology is a medical science and should be practiced by licensed hearing professionals. Buying a hearing aid should not be treated like purchasing reading glasses for aging eyes. A cheap hearing aid may cause more problems than it solves.
• Beware of hearing aid providers who have only one brand of hearing aid to sell. It will limit your choices and may result in buying a hearing aid that is not the best solution to your hearing problem.
• Beware of any hearing aid or device that claims to be "one size fits all." There is no good hearing aid device that works for everyone.