When it comes to selecting a treatment device there a wide variety of features available in modern hearing aids. However it should be remembered that most hearing aids, no matter what price range, are usually of the highest quality, and you are not necessarily getting better hearing if purchasing more advanced features. In fact there is no independent pear reviewed research that validates any improvement in outcomes between lower level technology and high level technology (click here to see published article on hearing aid pricing/features in Audiology Australia publication) .
However most of the features listed below are available in all hearing aid ranges and basic features such as directional microphones, telecoils and Bluetooth connectivity have been independently shown to significantly improve hearing and communication outcomes. Scroll down for a full list of our hearing aid range, price and features
- Channels: this feature allows the clinician to match the hearing aid to your hearing loss. Similar to a graphic equalizer on a stereo or radio it is the number of individual pitch adjustments available to bring each part of your hearing back up to a normal level. The more channels (anywhere from 4 to 24 channels) the closer we can match the hearing aid to your hearing loss, and the more natural it is theoretically meant to sound. However there is no verified independent research that support any significant benefits in speech intelligibility or background noise suppression.
- Directional Microphones: allows the hearing aid to change from picking up sounds all around (which is fine for when in quiet environments but makes it almost impossible to hear in noisier environments) to just picking up the person you want to hear in front. An essential feature to have if you are in noisy environments frequently and has been independently verified to improve hearing in background noise.
- Feedback Cancellation: feedback is the whistling sound created by a hearing aid when it picks up the sound of itself, similar to the feedback sound associated with a PA system. Most hearing aids now have a feature which cancels out the feedback sounds, so there should be no excuse for a whistling hearing aid in this day and age.
- Noise Reduction: hearing aids now have features which are specifically designed to focus on sounds which resemble human speech (human speech is a very unique sound with specific pitches and unique modulations which no other sound resembles) and reduces the amplification of sounds which don’t behave in a manner similar to human speech. For example in the car the hearing aid will focus on the speech sounds not the road noise.
- Programs: this feature allow the clinician to set up programs specific to certain environments. For example a quiet environment program will have minimal noise reduction features and pick up sounds all around, however a background noise program will lower the volume slightly, change to an increased amount of noise reduction, and will focus more on the sounds in front. Most hearing aids are automatic so they automatically change to the appropriate program setting for the environment that you are in. Other program settings available (both automatic or manual) include phone programs, music programs (which can be adjusted to the style of music you listen to), blue tooth, FM systems, induction loops, plane settings, or we can design one specifically for your communication needs.
- Log: most devices now have a feature which keeps a log of exactly what environments you have been wearing your hearing aid in, how may hours a day it is worn, any volume or program adjustments made or what the automatic features have been doing. This helps with fine tuning and trouble shooting any problems with the hearing aids.
- Bluetooth: most devices are now blue tooth compatible which means hearing aids can now talk directly to devices which have blue tooth transmitters such as mobile phones, televisions, iPads, iPods, lapel microphones to name but a few. For example if paired into the mobile phone the hearing aids become a hands free kit and you can hear the phone directly through the hearing aid, it is also exactly corrected to the hearing loss so it is as clear as you can hope to hear.
Our high quality hearing aid range, pricing and features*:
If you would like to know the exact price of each product listed below, or if a device that you are requiring is not mentioned below, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will provide the exact specifics.
Basic: $200-$500 per ear (AMP, Starkey Xino 20, Starkey BTE/OTE)
- Manual volume control
- Single Program
- Basic noise reduction
- Basic feedback cancellation
- 4 channels
Economy: $500-$1295 per ear (Unitron Quantum2/ Moxi2 E, Unitron Moxi/Stride 500, Starkey 3 Series/Xino 30, Starkey z Series i30, Starkey Muse i1000, Oticon Ria2, Oticon SP 4, Phonak Dalia, Phonak CROS, Phonak Audeo/Bolero Q30, Siemens Orion 2, Siemens Sirion 2, Widex Dream 50, Sonic Cheer 20, Sonic Cheer 40, GN Resound Enya 2, Bernafon Inzia 1/3, Bernafon Nevara, Bernafon Saphire/Carista/Supremia 3)
- Manual programs and volume controls
- Up to 4 switch-able manual programs
- Advanced Noise Reduction
- Multi-band Adaptive Directional Microphones
- Advanced Feedback Cancellation
- Tinnitus treatment modes
- Binaural Processing
- 4-8 channels
Mid-Range: $1295-$1995 per ear (Unitron Quantum2/ Moxi2 10, Unitron Stride/Moxi 600, Starkey Soundlens2/z Series/Halo/Xino 70, Starkey Muse i1200, Oticon Ria2 Pro, Oticon Nera2, Phonak Audeo/Bolero/Naidia/Virto V30, Siemens Binax/Primax /Aquarius 3, Widex Unique 110, Sonic Cheer 60, GN Resound Enya 3/4, GN Reouns Linx2/Enzo 5, Bernafon Chronos/Saphie/Carista 5)
- 2 Automatic program changes
- Bluetooth compatible
- Up to 4 switch-able manual programs
- Advanced Noise Reduction
- Multi-band Adaptive Directional Microphones
- Advanced Feedback cancellation
- Tinnitus treatment modes
- Basic Binaural Processing
- 8-12 channels
High-Range: $1795-$2795 per ear (Unitron Quantum/Moxi2 16, Unitron Stride/Moxi 700, Starkey Soundlens2/z Series/Halo/Xino 90, Starkey Soundlens/Muse i1600/i2000, Oticon Nera2, Oticon Nera2 Pro, Phonak Audeo/Bolero/Naida/Virto V50, Siemens Binax/Primax/Aquarius 5, Widex Unique 220, Widex Unique 330, Sonic Celebrate 80, GN Resound Linx2/Enzo2 7, Bernafon Acriva/Juna/Chronos 7)
- 3 Automatic program changes
- Bluetooth compatible
- Up to 4 switch-able manual programs
- Advanced Noise Reduction
- Multi-band Adaptive Directional Microphones
- Advanced Feedback cancellation
- Tinnitus treatment modes
- Intermediate Binaural Processing
- 16-20 channels
Premium Range: $2495-$3595 per ear (Unitron Quantum2/Moxi2 20, Unitron Quantum2/Moxi2 Pro, Unitron Stride/Moxi 800, Unitron Stride/Moxi Pro,Starkey Soundlens/z Series/Halo/Xino 110, Starkey Soundlens2/Muse i12400, Oticon Alta2, Oticon Alta2 Pro, Oticon Opn, Phonak Audeo/Bolero/Naida V70, Phonak Audeo/Bolero/Naida/Virto V90, Siemens Binax/Primax/Micon 7, Widex Unique 440, GN Resound Linx2/Enzo2 9, Bernafon Acriva/Juna/Chronos 9)
- 4 Automatic program changes
- Bluetooth compatible
- Up to 4 switch-able manual programs
- Advanced Noise Reduction
- Advanced Wind Noise Reduction
- Multi-band Adaptive Directional Microphones
- Advanced Feedback cancellation
- Tinnitus treatment modes
- Advanced Binaural Processing
- 20+ channels
*features can vary between manufacturers within each price range
Lyric: 180$ per ear per month
- 24/7 treatment
- completely invisible
- hassle-free use with no inserting, removing, changing batteries etc
- real time analogue hearing creates clearest hearing possible
- deep canal insertion utilises pinnae effects to boost sounds in front more than sounds behind and capture more high frequency use of ear canal resonance
- no wind noise
- shower, swim, exercise without removal
- volume control , sleep and ear plug modes
- can be self-removed if required
*features can vary between manufacturers within each price range
