Digital Hearing Aids
Slough, Maidenhead & Windsor

Modern digital hearing aids today are highly sophisticated sound processors that require expert knowledge and experience to be accurately selected, fitted and fine tuned to your personal hearing profile. They are not like other mass-produced electronic devices that can be purchased over the Internet or by mail order. They truly are bespoke to you and require to be fitted with first class and individual attention.

They generally are small, comfortable and so discreet that people simply will not even notice that you are wearing one, and can help with mild, moderate and severe hearing loss and tinnitus.

Help in Hearing supply digital hearing aids from world-renowned companies such as Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Siemens, Resound and Unitron. We recommend and fit only the latest, most up to date digital hearing aids in all budget ranges. There is no doubt that the most recent products introduced to the market are more advanced in technology over the ones released even as little as a year ago such as the new Phonak Lyric hearing aid.

Lyric Hearing Aid

Lyric hearing aids are the world first completely in ear, extended use hearing aid.

The device is located in the ear canal and uses the natural shape of the ear canal to funnel and carry sound through the ear to the ear drum.

Our specially trained Audiologists will be able to insert Lyric Hearing Aids, which are designed to be worn for up to 4 months without the need for it to be removed or the replacement of expensive batteries.

For more information on Lyric Hearing Aids and to discuss your options with one of our experienced Audiologists call now at either our Farnham Common or Marlow practice on 01753 642687 or 01628 482101.

Almost all hearing aids today have digital sound processors and come with varied levels of technology, which determines the cost of the aid rather than the style.

Your Help in Hearing audiologist will discuss and advise you on the most appropriate solution having considered your individual hearing, lifestyle as well as financial requirements.

Styles of hearing aids

• Deep Canal Hearing Aids
• - Entirely invisible hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing losses (Lyric & Soundlens)
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids (ITE)
• - Full shell aid suitable for moderate to severe hearing losses.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC)
• - Suitable for mild to severe hearing losses
• Completely in the canal aids (CIC)
• - Suitable for mild, moderate to severe hearing losses
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE)
• - Behind the Ear with custom ear mould – suitable for mild, moderate, severe to profound hearing losses.
• - Open Ear - slim tube suitable for mild to moderate high frequency losses.
• Receiver in the canal hearing aids (RIC, RITE)
• - Receiver in the canal with custom shell – suitable for mild, moderate, severe to profound hearing losses.
• - Receiver in the canal with open fitting - suitable both mild and moderate hearing loss.

Your journey to better hearing will start with the fitting of the hearing aids and will continue with the support of Help in Hearing audiologists throughout the life span of your hearing aids.

You can come to either of our practices, Farnham Common or Marlow, both of which are close to Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor, & Gerrards Cross.

At Help in Hearing we carry out hearing tests in a friendly and comfortable environment using the latest testing equipment. Hearing tests require a little concentration but are not painful. We will discuss your lifestyle and medical history relating to your ears and your hearing in detail. We examine your ears with a video-otoscope giving you the opportunity to have a look into your own ears on a screen. After the completion of various tests, including speech comprehension, loudness tolerance and middle ear pressure tests, the results will be discussed in detail and solutions offered to suit your personal requirements.

We always recommend you bring either, your spouse, a friend or relative to the initial consultation as it will take approximately one and a half hours when a lot of information will be passed.

People generally do not realize that to improve one's hearing can take time. In order for the brain to understand the new sounds it is receiving via hearing aids and translate them into recognizable sounds is a gradual process. Bombarding the brain with amplification will just confuse and be of little help initially. Having a hearing test and aids fitted is just the beginning of the journey to better hearing. It is the aftercare (and of paramount importance) the experience and expertise of the hearing aid audiologist, during rehabilitation visits following the fitting of the aids, which make the difference between a good investment and a bad one.

Therefore, a customized program to suit your requirements will be established and usually consists of a rehabilitation visit two weeks after the initial fitting of the aids, followed by further two weekly appointments until the optimum level of amplification has been achieved.

In order to get the best results, specifically when improving speech discrimination in difficult background situations is a priority, we may advise to use L.A.C.E (Listening and Communication Enhancement program)

What is LACE?

Listening and Communication Enhancement: LACE is an interactive computerized training program designed for home use.Just as physical therapy can help rebuild muscles and adjust movements to compensate for physical weakness or injury, LACE can assist in developing listening and communication strategies that can help compensate for those situations when hearing is inadequate.

What is the Purpose of LACE?

We may "hear" in our ears, but we "listen" in our brain. Hearing aids can help a person detect softer sounds, but they don't necessarily provide good listening skills. Even people with normal hearing can be poor listeners. Good listening skills are one of the components essential for effective communication. Other components include rapid thought processing, auditory memory, use of language skills, and interactive communication strategies. In addition, gaining confidence in your hearing skills is vital. These skills can be damaged both by hearing loss and by the natural aging process. LACE is designed to enhance your ability to communicate by maximizing your listening skills and communication strategies.

Training Tasks

LACE provides a variety of interactive and adaptive tasks that will help train you to listen and communicate more effectively. LACE training is adaptive, so it is never too difficult or too easy. As you improve, the training intensifies. After a few sessions, you will find yourself conquering difficult listening situations you never imagined possible.

Your Help in Hearing audiologist will follow your progress closely and will discuss results in details during the follow up sessions.

It is worthwhile pointing out that, buying hearing aids over the Internet with no 1 to 1 contact afterwards by way of rehabilitation is in many cases a disaster financially and emotionally waiting to happen. At Help in Hearing we strongly believe that a badly fitted hearing aid is worse than not having a hearing aid at all.

For further information on hearing tests, advice and to find out what Help in Hearing can do for your aural needs contact us today and book an appointment at Farnham Common or Bracknell, either by filling in our online form or by calling us on 01753 642 687. If you would rather visit our Marlow practice you can call us on 01628 482 101. Both practices are a short drive from local areas such as Slough, Maidenhead & Windsor.

Loud noise can damage your hearing. If you use iPods with head phones at high volume levels, or you are working in a noisy environment, if you are a musician, take part in motor or gun sports, you need to protect your hearing.

Noise induced hearing damage is permanent, is irreversible and it can dramatically affect the quality of your life. It can also cause debilitating Tinnitus.

At Help in Hearing we can advise on the most appropriate noise protection from custom made solutions, in the ear monitors, electronic noise suppressors for those that shoot or a non-customised product such as ER20's, should you need something urgent for a one off event. We also supply customised swim moulds.

If your hearing aid is broken or stopped working for any unknown reason, Help in Hearing offer an all make hearing aid repair service, even if you have purchased the aid somewhere else.

We work on a 'drop in' basis at our Farnham Common practice, which is less than a 30 minute drive from areas such as Maidenhead and Gerrards Cross. You are welcome to come by during office hours and our secretary Marguerite will be happy to check, test and clean the hearing aid for you.

Alternatively, you can post the aid, making sure you include your details clearly and send it by registered mail so that it is insured and can be traced.

Should the aid need a repair by the manufacturer, we will send it away for you and refit it on its return. Charges will depend on the cost of the repair by the manufacturer and we will be able to give you a quote before proceeding with the repair.

Wax or Cerumen is the normal secretion of glands that are positioned just at the entrance of the ear canal under the skin. It creates a protective layer over the skin of the ear canal and is believed to provide anti-bacterial qualities. Wax can be sticky and wet in nature, or dry and flaky. It is perfectly normal to have a small amount of wax in the ear canal and must not be presumed to be 'dirty'.

NEVER put anything smaller than your elbow into your ears', we have all heard this warning before and it is important to take note of this. Do NOT use cotton buds to clean your ears as severe injuries can occur to the wall of the ear canals or to the Ear drum. Ears are self cleansing and are designed for wax and skin debris to migrate outwards therefore it is not necessary to attempt to remove wax yourself. Wax removal is only necessary when there is an accumulation of wax which may impair your hearing, if it causes discomfort or if it causes your hearing aid to whistle.

At Help in Hearing we can remove wax using either irrigation (water) or if possible, "dry removal" using a small probe. Which method we use will depend on your specific history and appropriate to the condition of the ear, which we will ascertain whilst you are attending your Ear Care Appointment. If you suffer from excessive ear wax problems or suspect that you may need to have your ears cleared of wax give Help in Hearing a call or email through our contact page to arrange an "Ear Care" appointment.

If you have concerns about ear wax, please contact our secretary Marguerite to book an appointment either at the Farnham Common or Marlow practice. Tel: 01753 642687 or 01628 482101.