Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are small, sophisticated devices that amplify sounds and provide clearer hearing to those with hearing loss. Restoring hearing is empowering and clear communication is a treasure. Hearing aids can be large or small, and range from affordable to the most advanced in hearing technology.

Hearing aids are small, sophisticated devices that amplify sounds and provide clearer hearing to those with hearing loss. Restoring hearing is empowering and clear communication is a treasure. Hearing aids can be large or small, and range from affordable to the most advanced in hearing technology.

While all hearing aids have these components, higher quality hearing aids will have better sound reproduction. Your individual needs and lifestyle, as well as level of hearing loss, will determine what hearing aid is right for you.

Hearing aids work to optimize speech, provide feedback cancellation, and reduce unwanted noise. They are designed for comfort and reliability, and can be manual or automatic, remembering your preferred settings for different programs. They come in subtle colors to match your skin or bright colors to match your personality. What makes each hearing aid unique is its design, featured technology, and advanced programs.

At The Hearing Center of Hawaii, our audiologist will help you determine the best hearing aid model for your hearing loss, lifestyle and budget. You can even try a pair of hearing aids risk-free, before investing in a pair of aids. Dr. Howard Tamashiro is here to help reconnect you to your life through better hearing. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

We understand that a hearing aid is an investment for our patients. Many people prefer to try a pair of hearing aids in the environments they frequent most, like at home, work or place of worship. Our hearing aid trial program provides the opportunity to test a pair of hearing aids at home before committing to a purchase. Simply make an appointment for a consultation with our audiologist, and you can have a pair of hearing aids programmed to your unique hearing loss to try at home.

• Best option to correct your hearing difficulties
• Clean crisp sound
• Highest patient satisfaction
• Individually crafted and customized to your needs
• Small and cosmetically appealing

Hearing aid models are typically available in several different wearing styles. Wearing styles range from those that sit behind your ear to styles that fit deep inside your ear canal, and options in between. 

Some factors to consider when picking hearing aids include: quality, advanced features, and cosmetics.

Hearing aid technology has become increasingly compact and discreet, to suit every lifestyle. What if you could find a hearing aid that combines the latest hearing aid technology with a barely visible shell that no one notices? Look no further! In the canal hearing aids are the custom made hearing assistance you’ve been looking for.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are the largest, with increased amplification for those with profound hearing loss. On the other end of the spectrum are Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) styles which are custom fit to sit deep inside your ear canal, undetectable from the outside.  

Some of our patients express concern about how their hearing aids will look, if they will blend in with their skin tone maintaining discretion. For these patients, custom made in the canal hearing aids are an ideal solution. 

At The Hearing Center of Hawaii, we specialize in Custom Fit Hearing Aids, and offer a wide range of options for each patient. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tamashiro.

Competely-In-The-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are almost impossible to see. They sit entirely in the ear canal, with only a small removal handle visible at the outside of the ear canal. These hearing aids are molded to fit perfectly into your ear canal and treat mild to moderately severe hearing loss. Each shell is custom made, with components individually placed within to provide the best in comfort and quality. CIC hearing aids reduce wind and background noise, since they block the ear canal. They also provide more natural hearing. However, they do block the ear, occluding sounds.

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids use the ear’s natural shape to conduct sound, and do not block the outer ear. Sound travels naturally down to the hearing aid in the ear canal, providing more natural sound and better spatial cues.

Invisible-In-The-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are even smaller than CIC hearing aids and are designed for mild and moderate hearing loss. IIC are custom made and are so tiny no one will know you’re even wearing them, as they are virtually undetectable once correctly placed within your ear. IIC are custom fit hearing aids that sit deeply in the ear canal, so this makes them extremely difficult to adjust manually. However,  all programs are automatic, or can be manually adjusted using a remote or a smartphone app. All of the programs and advanced technology you need to recover and maintain your hearing are housed in the tiny, custom made shell fitted specifically to your ear. IIC hearing aids are excellent for an active lifestyle. The phone can be held right up to your ear. Helmets or other headgear is easy to wear, and you can even wear headphones. Make an appointment today with Dr. Tamashiro to see if these hearing aids are right for you!

Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are similar to BTE models. In this style, most components are housed behind the ear, but the receiver (or speaker) is in the ear canal. Like the BTE style, RIC hearing aids work for all levels of hearing loss. This style is barely visible when worn, since the piece resting behind the ear is small.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are one of the most common hearing aid styles, and are for all levels of hearing loss. They are easy to handle and adjust. The components of the hearing aid are in a small plastic case that sits behind the ear, with a clear tubing connecting to an ear mold in the ear. Since they have a larger battery, BTE aids can provide greater sound amplification for those with severe hearing loss, as well as powering more settings and programs, and having a longer battery life. This style does not block the ear canal, and sounds are heard in a more natural way.

In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids are among the hearing aids often picked for cosmetic reasons. They are more discreet since all components of the hearing aid are in a shell that sits in the external ear. ITE styles are easy to insert or manually adjust settings, and can aid all levels of hearing loss.