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  Address
645 N Michigan
Suite 410
Chicago IL
USA 60611
  Phone
312-274-0197
  Fax
312-376-8707
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Hearing Aid Devices

Chicago Dizziness and Hearing dispenses a wide variety of hearing aids including the most advanced technology currently available. We provide diagnostic hearing evaluation. Our audiologists select hearing aids specific to a patient's hearing loss and individual lifestyle. Extensive discussion of hearing aids is located on our main site, dizziness-and-balance.com. If you want to know more about how do we help in getting a hearing aid, see this page. We also offer related services such as ear plugs to our patients. For information about our Audiology Service, see this page.

There are numerous brands and variants. In general, smaller devices, such as the CIC devices, are more expensive, and newer/more complex circuitry is also more expensive. Compression circuitry in analog aids is more expensive (but definitely a good idea). Directional microphones cost more, but are also a good idea. Greater user control is also usually more expensive. Bilateral aids are often but not always better (Baron, 2002).

Hearing aid devices can be roughly categorized into behind the ear, post-auricular canal, in the ear, in the canal, completely in the canal or other types. The following summarizes feature of these devices.

Behind the ear (BTE)
BTE hearing aids are cheapest, most powerful, easiest to adjust, with fewest number of problems with wax or infections, does not require an impression, less feedback than other devices and fairly visible. They come in many different colors to match your skin, hair, and bright colors for kids. They may be connected to external sound sources such as assistive listening devices (directional technology, FM systems, CROS/BI-CROSS hearing devices) and televisions.
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Hearing aids
Post-auricular canal (PAC)
A hybrid between BTE and CIC, this device is almost invisible and easy to fit and maintain. This is a hearing aid that we often dispense. The pictures are adapted from Sebotek.
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Hearing aids
In the ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids are low visibility. Although harder to put in and adjust than PAC or BTE, they are powerful and still fairly easy to adjust. It can fit a wide variety of hearing losses including severe losses. They also come in skin colors and can also be equipped with directional technology.
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Hearing aids
In the canal (ITC)
Clearer than BTE, ITC hearing aids are very low visibility. They are lower power and are thus not suitable for persons with more severe hearing problems. Patients with tremor or poor eyesight are not good candidates. The device is also matched to skin color.
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Hearing aids
Completely in the canal (CIC)
BTE hearing aid is the smallest hearing instrument available today. It fits snugly into your ear canal with a tiny filament that is used to remove the instrument. The faceplate of the CIC instrument is made to match skin color. Due to its tighter fit, patients with tremor or poor eyesight are not good candidates. It is best used for mild to moderate hearing losses.
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Hearing aids

Other
There are also Body/Eye-glass styles (< 1%), low-profile, half-shell, and canal types.
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How much do hearing aids cost?
Hearing aids are typically not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance and pricing varies according to the manufacturer, vendor, and service arrangements. According to Kirkwood (2005), in 2004, the average price of a hearing aid was $1776. These prices are taken from an article on management of hearing loss by Bogardus et al, 2003.

Hearing aid type One ear Both ears
Conventional (Analog, non-programmable) $850-1500 $1400-3000
Programmable (Analog) $949-2000 $2200-4000
Digital $1399-2999 $4200-5400

In Illinois where we practice, as well as in many other states, there is a 30 day tryout period, which is basically a legally mandated money-back guarantee for the hearing aid device itself. The dispenser is allowed to keep a fee for their services during the trial. As hearing aids are generally not covered by insurance and typically cost in the $1000s, we recommend that you think about this carefully. On the other hand, hearing is such an important sense that it is hard not to make it less impaired.

Evaluation and fitting
At Chicago Dizziness and Hearing, we provide hearing aid support, including diagnostic hearing evaluation, hearing aid evaluation and hearing aid fitting. More information can be found at this page.
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Ear plugs
Somewhat of the opposite idea than hearing aids, but partaking of the same general technology, ear plugs are used to protect hearing. At CDH we will help you to select ear plugs or help with custom ear molds. More information can be found at this page.

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