Which Hearing Device is Right for You?
Surgery can be an effective option for hearing loss, but personal preferences and medical conditions often shape treatment. Advances in digital hearing aids have transformed life for millions, addressing hearing loss that often starts in the 50s or earlier due to genetics. At The NY ENT Center, we ensure every patient gets the device that fits their needs.
Halo™ Hearing Device
The Halo™ hearing device is a modern hearing aid designed for convenience and ease of use. It features Bluetooth connectivity to sync seamlessly with compatible devices. A small receiver rests on the ear and connects to the TruLink™ Hearing Control app for personalized control and enhanced hearing.
With the Halo™ device, you can:
- Remotely control your hearing aids using Bluetooth
- Hear clearly and comfortably in noisy environments
- Eliminate whistling and buzzing
- Hear high-frequency sounds (like women’s and children’s voices)
- Stream calls, FaceTime, and music directly to your hearing aids
- Adjust settings easily based on your location and needs
The Halo™ works as a standalone hearing aid to manage noise, reduce feedback, and improve overall hearing clarity.
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHAs)
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHAs) are ideal for those with outer ear abnormalities, like missing or malformed ear structures, because they don’t rely on an outer ear component.
How They Work:
BAHAs use bone conduction to send sound directly to the cochlea. They are especially helpful for people with hearing loss in one ear. The device has a processor that vibrates a small, implanted fixture, sending these vibrations through the skull bones to the cochlea. The cochlea then converts these vibrations into signals the brain recognizes as sound.
Procedure:
- The implantation is done under general anesthesia with minimal discomfort.
- A titanium fixture is implanted into the skull behind the ear.
- After about 3 months, once the fixture fuses with the bone, a processor is attached to complete the system.
Cochlear Implants (CI)
Cochlear Implants (CIs) were developed in the 1960s to help people with profound sensorineural hearing loss and have been FDA-approved since 1985. While CIs don’t restore normal hearing, they provide significant benefits by offering auditory stimulation that hearing aids cannot, improving environmental awareness and speech understanding.
How They Work:
When the cochlea’s hair cells are damaged and can’t send sound signals to the brain, a CI can generate these signals.
The device includes:
- A microphone and speech processor worn externally.
- A transmitter surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear, which sends signals to electrodes in the cochlea.
These signals travel through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Halo™ hearing device offers Bluetooth connectivity for seamless syncing with compatible devices and allows remote control via the TruLink™ Hearing Control app. It improves hearing clarity by reducing whistling and buzzing, enhances perception of high-frequency sounds like women’s and children’s voices, and streams calls, FaceTime, and music directly to the hearing aids.
BAHAs are ideal for individuals with outer ear abnormalities such as missing or malformed ear structures, or for those with hearing loss in one ear. Because they use bone conduction and bypass the outer ear, they can effectively transmit sound directly to the cochlea without requiring conventional hearing aid components.
The BAHA implantation involves placing a titanium fixture into the skull bone behind the ear under general anesthesia. After about three months, once the fixture has fully integrated with the bone, a sound processor is attached to complete the hearing aid system. The procedure is minimally painful and designed for long-term use.
Cochlear Implants are designed for people with profound sensorineural hearing loss where damaged cochlear hair cells cannot send sound signals to the brain. While CIs don't restore normal hearing, they provide auditory stimulation that improves environmental awareness and speech understanding beyond what hearing aids can offer.
Cochlear implants consist of an external microphone and speech processor, and an implanted transmitter that sends signals to electrodes in the cochlea. These electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve directly, allowing the brain to interpret these signals as sound, compensating for damaged cochlear hair cells.
Yes, the Halo™ hearing device features Bluetooth connectivity that allows it to stream calls, FaceTime, music, and other audio directly from compatible smartphones and streaming devices. Users can adjust settings easily using the TruLink™ app based on their environment and preferences.
Digital hearing aids like the Halo™ provide customizable sound settings, reduce common issues such as whistling and buzzing, and improve hearing in noisy environments. They also allow wireless control and integration with smartphones, enhancing user convenience and overall hearing experience.