Hearing Aids at Sonant Hearing Clinic, Rochester, Kent

What are Hearing Aids? Private Hearing Aids in Medway, Kent

Hearing Aids are medical devices which when programmed aim to amplify sounds at specific levels and frequencies in order to restore audibility and clarity.

Correctly programmed aids will not damage one’s hearing but enhance one’s hearing. In the past, aids were seen as basic amplifiers, but presently they house not only advanced amplifiers but more sophisticated technology including micro-processors using artificial intelligence (AI), dynamic feedback cancellation processes, automatically adjusting microphones, noise-cancelling algorithms, falls detectors, heart rate trackers and step counters!

Variety of Hearing Aids at Sonant Hearing Clinic, Kent

Why use an Audiologist at Sonant Hearing, Kent for your private Hearing aids

Our role is to help you find the best hearing technology for your specific circumstances. Each solution is considered carefully in terms of your hearing loss, lifestyle, preference, budget and capability. This ensures that a personalised solution is always offered to you. Each hearing brand has it's unique best performing feature e.g size, rechargeable battery life, music processing abilities, speech in noise processing, durability, build etc. No one hearing aid works for every single person. We consider all the top leading brands. From Widex, Phonak, Signia, Starkey, GnResound, and Oticon. Since there is no bias, our recommendations are truly personalised to meet your needs.

Once a hearing solution is chosen, we use best practice measures in programming up the hearing aids for each individual’s loss. This includes performing real-ear measurements, which verify what the hearing aid is doing, hearing aid feedback calibration measurements, speech tests and peer-reviewed evidence-based prescription formulas. We aim to optimise your hearing with science not guesswork.
We offer annual hearing tests to review your hearing thresholds for any change. If your thresholds change we will re-program the same hearing aids to match that change.
We will inform your GP if there is a significant change in your hearing that requires additional medical review.
We will check your ear health at 6 months and the annual check to ensure that your ears are healthy and are managing well with the hearing aids.
We offer earwax removal services at our clinic in Medway, Rochester, Kent, so you can get all your hearing needs addressed in one place.
We can repair your hearing aid and fix your hearing aids if any faults arise.
Once a solution is chosen, we offer an aural rehabilitation program to help you adapt to your hearing solution over time at your pace. Your hearing aid is adjusted to a comfortable level for you to get used to and then gradually adjusted to meet your prescription levels for optimal hearing.
The audiologist will continue periodically to ensure that the hearing aid is working best to meet your needs by reviewing your auditory needs every year.
We offer monthly payment plan options.
We offer an aftercare hearing aid service plan. Feel free to review our prices of services and hearing aids here or call us on 01634 479550.

Types of Hearing Aids We Can Offer Near You

Receiver in the canal Hearing Aids (RIC)

The receiver in the canal (RIC) hearing aid is the most popular style of all hearing aids. The RIC hearing aid covers the largest range of losses from mild hearing losses to severe hearing losses. The RIC can be coupled with smaller domes for mild losses and custom earmoulds for profound losses requiring lots of power. Some models are waterproof. The RIC body can be very small in size or long and slim to sit better behind the ear with glass frames. They are often packed full of features and built to cover a wider range of budgets, with processing features added, reduced or removed.

Custom Hearing Aids

Invisible in the canal hearing aid (IIC)

these hearing aids are very small and sit deep within the ear canal. They come with a cord to help you pull them out of your ear. Features like bluetooth and rechargeability can be limited due to the smaller size of the shell. Battery is usually a size 10. Good dexterity is recommended for easier insertion, removal and battery changing. They are not visible to most, these are one of the most discreet types of hearing aids.

Completely in the canal hearing aid (CIC)

these hearing aids are slightly larger than the IIC. Often limited in features but not as much as IIC. Battery size usually size 10. They can come with program/memory or volume buttons built in. Appearance is also discreet.

Full Shell In The Ear Hearing Aid (ITE)

Half Shell In The Ear Hearing Aid (ITE)

these hearing aids can be half shell (pictured black) or full shell (pictured skin colour), depending on how much of the “concha” (the c-shaped enclosure within the ear) is filled. They have larger batteries and are easier for those with dexterity concerns to handle. These can be rechargeable or use disposable batteries. The battery size is a slightly larger size 13 or size 312. They can house additional features like bluetooth connectivity and rechargeable batteries. Some are shaped and coloured to look like fashionable “apple air-pods” or ear-buds

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids (BTE)

One of the original styles of hearing aids. The Behind the ear hearing aids is one of the most powerful styles of hearing aids. The BTE hearing aid is able to manage most severe to profound losses. The BTE hearing aid is usually packed with power and features to enhance connectivity to other audio devices such as the classic telecoil (Induction loop) and bluetooth. Some brands are rechargeable. They work best coupled with custom earmoulds.

Next: What happens at a hearing aid assessment?

What service is available for your hearing aids?