Hearing Aids

For information on the styles of hearing aids, please see the videos on our homepage.

Our Audiologists fit our patients with the best technology in the industry.  The hearing aid manufacturers that we use with most confidence inclulde:

Lyric:    http://www.lyrichearing.com  

Lyric Benefits: 

*  Worn 24/7 for up to four months at a time, while sleeping, showering, exercising and talking on the phone.

* Delivers clear, natural sound quality - minimizes background noise.

* No daily hassles - no batteries to change or daily insertion or removal required.

See our audiologists for fitting and hearing loss candidacy to see if you will benefit from the Lyric Hearing Aid.

Phonak:   http://www.phonak.com

One of our favorite Phonak hearing aids is the Naida.  We often find this hearing device is a good complement for our patients with a cochlear implant in one ear and a  hearing aid in the other ear.  The Naida is powerful enough and helps the high frequency hearing losses better than most hearing aids.  The SoundRecover feature is the reason we like the Naida so much.

According to Phonak's website, Naida's  "SoundRecover is the only effective way to extend hearing by restoring high-frequency sounds that would otherwise be inaudible. Audibility of the full spectrum of sounds improves speech understanding, awareness of the sound environment and listening pleasure."  SoundRecover is why Naida is so successful in improving hearing for our patients with severe sloping high frequency hearing losses.   

Naida Fitting Range:

Phonak hearing aids feature CORE technology.  It is a powerful high-performance chip with many performance features.  Some of the performance features offered with CORE technology include; SoundRecover, SoundFlow, ZoomControl, and DuoPhone.

SoundRecover gives a patient more audibility.  As you read earlier, It takes regions where there is significant hearing loss and compresses them into regions where the hearing is better.  SoundRecover is typically activated for people with significant high frequency hearing loss and is in all levels of technology.

SoundFlow is Phonak's automatic processing.  It is different in the various levels of technology.  In basic (entry level) technology the hearing aids will automatically switch back and forth between two programs (quiet & noise).  Mid-level technology the hearing aids automatically switch back and forth between three programs (quiet, noise, and intense noise).  SoundFlow in the premium product switches back and forth between four programs (quiet, noise, intense noise, and music).  With SoundFlow the hearing aid will automatically change for the patient; however manual programs can be added at anytime.

*ZoomControl allows the patient to focus on the speech from all directions (front, back, left, or right).  Research shows that it significantly improves comprehension.  ZoomControl is only available in Phonak's premium products that have a push-button or with the use of a remote control.

*DuoPhone allows the patient to hear a telephone call in both ears.  DuoPhone is only avaliable in Phonak's premium products.

*Not all of the features listed above are available in all of Phonak's products.    

For the products with Phonak's CORE technology the Phonak iCom can also be purchased.  The iCom allows people with hearing loss to connect to a variety of devices such as cell phones, MP3 Players, computers, and other audio sources.  The iCom wirelessly connects to bluetooth devices or offers a stereo jack for cable connections.

       Phonak iCom 

Phonak also offers Dynamic FM technology.  FM technology consits of a transmitter (microphone) and a receiver.  The transmitter picks up the signal and sends it to the receiver wirelessly using FM waves.  FM helps patients with hearing loss who use hearing aids have better understanding in background noise.  FM can also be useful for people with normal hearing who have difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise.  FM can be used in the car, at church, at home, in school, or at a restaurants.  

  Widex

Widex was founded in 1956 by the Tøpholm and Westermann families, who still own and run the company. Widex now employs around 2,400 staff around the world. In 1995 Widex became world-famous when it introduced the world's first digital in-the-ear hearing aid. 

  Our patients who are fit with Widex hearing instruments often describe them as very "quiet" and hardly notice they are wearing the device(s). Patients are also pleased with their new ability to hear "soft" sounds much better. This allows for maximum environmental awareness and speech understanding, even of the soft-spoken individual. 

Many conventional hearing aid wearers cannot hear high-pitched sounds such as women's and children's voices, bird's chirping, and some notes of music. With the Audibility Extender technology provided by Widex, these sounds that are inaudible to the patient are "shifted" to an area of better hearing, making them audible, clear and comfortable. Widex also offers SmartSpeak technology, an innovative verbal messaging system. It uses actual recorded speech to talk you through functions such as program mode and battery power. They come in a variety of languages and in male or female voice. 

 The Mind440 hearing system offers Zen, a revolutionary music system integrated into the hearing aid. It is a range of five random harmonic tone sequences that you can listen to when you want. They aid in relaxation, stress reduction and can improve concentration. For tinnitus (ear ringing) sufferers, this can be very beneficial. 

This fall, Widex will reveal its newest and most advanced hearing system yet. The Clear440 uses new wireless technology, WidexLink. This allows your hearing instruments to communicate with each other, just like our two ears do naturally. By combining the Clear440 hearing aids with one of the wireless accessories, you can wirelessly hear the telephone, TV and ipod signals through both of your hearing devices at an amplified level. All of the devices are designed to be intuitive and easy to use with simple, recognizable controls. Also, the new IE Speech Enhancer feature allows the device to better determine the difference between the speech that you want to hear and the noise that you do not want to hear. 

SIEMENS

Siemens hearing aids feature BestSound technology.  It is Siemens' most advanced sound processing system ever.  Features of BestSound include SpeechFocus, SoundLearning 2.0, and Feedback Stopper.

*SpeechFocus automatically seeks out speech that is coming from behind the patient in the presence of background noise.  It helps to improve a patients understanding in difficult situations.

*SoundLearning 2.0 is Siemens automatic processing.  Products switch back and forth between two programs (quiet and noise).  Siemens premium hearing aids will switch back and forth between more than two programs.

Feedback Stopper helps to predict feedback before it happens.  If feedback does occur Feedback Stopper helps to eliminate it quickly. 

*Not all of the features listed above are available in all of Siemens products.

Siemens also offers bluetooth technology.  The Tek allows hearing aid users to connect wirelessly to various audio devices such as televisions, cell phones, and MP3 players.  The Tek is about the size of a cell phone and can be placed in your pocket or worn around your neck.

Resound:  www.gnresound.com  or go to our Links to visit website

ReSound is one of the leading hearing aid manufacturers in the United States.  Understanding patient needs and creating innovative hearing solutions based on sound technology continues to be a hallmark of ReSound.  In striving to develop better hearing solutions that help people 'rediscover hearing', ReSound is currently known for the following 3 unique features:

*Surround Sound by ReSound - this is a type of sound processor that treats low and high frequency sounds differently to recreate the unaided human ear's natural directivity patterns.  It then mixes the frequencies at the optimal point for the individual to improve understanding, awareness, and surroundings, and also to preserve rich sound.  This is a feature designed to set ReSound apart from traditional directionality and low-frequency equalization technology.

*Remote Microphone Technology - ReSound was the first to introduce revolutionary remote microphone hearing aid design, which was the first real innovation in custom instruments in more than 20 years.  The microphone is located at the end of a flexible tube, and then placed securely in the concha symba portion of the ear (see picture).  The rest of the instrument is inserted into the ear as with conventional Completely In the Canal (CIC) devices.  This gives the user more natural directionality, wind noise protection, and sound localization.  This hearing aid is designed to accomodate mild to moderately-severe hearing losses.  Though it is primarily fit for its "invisibility" factor, it is also an appropriate option for patients who may not have a pinna that can accomodate a traditional Behind-The-Ear (BTE)instrument.

*ISolate Nanotech Coating - coats all elements of the hearing aid with a protective layer that bonds at a molecular levels with the internal and external components, shielding them without affecting their performance.  Liquids or moisture coming into contact with any element of the hearing aids-including the internal elements-will simply roll off with out being absorbed.  This is an important feature because of the negative affect that moisture can have on a hearing instrument acoustically. ISolate nanotech is found in ReSound's premium hearing products.

COMING THIS FALL!  ReSound will be releasing a brand new product in the fall of 2010 called ReSound Alera, which will be their most advanced premium hearing instrument to date.  This instrument can be paired with their new Bluetooth Wireless Accessory System, ReSound Unite.  This wireless system was designed to give handsfree, strong and clear connections from devices like T.V. and mobile phones, to the hearing instruments themselves.  

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
The newest, smallest hearing aids, these are custom-made to fit deeply inside your ear canal so that they are practically invisible.

In-the-Canal (ITC)
These are also custom-made and small enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal. They can be hardly noticeable.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
These are custom-made hearing aids made to fit within the external ear. They are the most widely recommended style.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
These fit snugly behind the ear and are attached to a custom earpiece molded to the shape of your external ear.



Open-fit devices:

Recently a new device has come on the market, the "Open-fit" or "Over-the-Ear" OTE Hearing Aid. Usually quite discrete, these are small Behind-the-ear type devices, with a much finer clear tube that runs down into the ear canal. Inside the ear canal, there is a small soft silicone dome or a molded, highly vented acrylic tip that holds the tube in place. There are also devices available which have an external speaker, placed inside the ear canal, and connected to the hearing system itself by a thin cable. The external speaker allows the device behind the ear to be even smaller. These devices are designed to reduce the "occlusion effect", which is the amplification of your own voice when your ears are plugged up (try sticking your fingers in your ears and talking). Open-fit devices are very beneficial for High-Frequency hearing losses, and have been introduced by all major hearing aid companies.







Other Products

Ear Plugs and Custom Molded Ear Plugs


Never before have in-ear musicians monitoring and hearing protection been so readily available at such a low price. Whether you're looking for a quick and inexpensive entry to in-ear musicians monitoring, a way to preserve your hearing at concerts, or a professional performing experience without the feedback and mishmash of sound that traditional floor wedges provide, Nashville ENT Audiology has something for you!


We have a wide variety of musician earplugs including universal hearing protection and custom protection and monitoring.


Other areas where people may need a more comfortable custom fitting earpiece include an ipod or other headphone listening device, hunters earplugs, and medical uses.










Assistive listening devices
Please ask us about any assistive listening device you may need.

Alarm Clocks
Telephone Amplifiers
T.V. Ears
FM Systems