Behind-the-Ear and Mini Behind-the-Ear Devices
Comfort and versatility
The behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid is placed behind the auricle and is connected to an earmold. Easy to manipulate, this hearing aid is powerful and resistant. It increases sound quality and the comprehension of environmental sounds, such as speech. In addition to being high-performance, it has several customized programs. Ideal for all types of deafness, ranging from the mildest to the most severe.
IIC, CIC, and Peritympanic Devices
Aesthetics Guaranteed
The in-ear hearing aid is positioned entirely in the user's ear. This custom-fit product is very effective. In addition to being easy to handle, the in-ear hearing aid is well suited for moderate to severe hearing loss. It is equipped with a directional microphone, an automatic telecoil and a volume control.
In-the-Canal and In-the-Ear Devices
Discretion with more features
The in-the-canal hearing aid is positioned at the entrance of the auditory canal, in the ear canal. More discreet than the full-shell device, it is quite stylish. It is made to measure based on the user’s ear canal. In addition to being easy to manipulate, this hearing aid is comfortable. As its microphone is placed near the eardrum, the sound is natural. This product is available with a volume control and a customized program, is suitable for all types of hearing loss.
Extended Wear Hearing Aid
Just like contact lens for your ears
This sophisticated hearing aid is designed to be worn 24 hours a day and is precisely placed 4 mm from the eardrum, making it completely invisible. It requires no maintenance or battery replacement. It is also very comfortable due to its flexibility. It is suitable for mild to moderate hearing losses. Consult us to check if this product is adequate for your situation.
The cost of hearing aids
Several factors influence their price: the model chosen, the brand and the integrated technology (basic, intermediate, advanced, or premium), which notably offers various functions that improve listening, such as, for example, the attenuation of loud sounds, the emergence of speech in difficult situations or the changing of automatic settings according to the sound environment. The price of the prostheses includes the hearing aid practitioner's fees for their entire lifetime.
Several organizations, such as the Regie de l'assurance maladie du Quebec, the SAAQ, the CNESST and Veterans Affairs may reimburse part or all of the cost of hearing aids, as will some private insurance companies.
Where to buy hearing aids
In Quebec, only hearing aid practitioners are authorized to sell hearing aids. This regulation protects, among other things, consumers from other health care professionals who might prescribe hearing aids to people who do not need them, simply to sell more of them.
Frequently asked questions
Beware of hearing aids sold in pharmacies or on online sales platforms, such as Amazon, for a fraction of the price.
In fact, these devices are not real hearing aids; they are simple sound amplifiers. They increase the volume of the sound heard (whether or not the sound is useful to the wearer), but do not correct hearing issues like a prosthesis, which is considered medical equipment. On the contrary, they can mask the problem.
While there are hearing amplifiers that can be truly beneficial under certain conditions, others can even contribute to hearing health deterioration. If you purchase one of these devices, be vigilant, as there are no regulations to ensure their quality and safety. In addition, an amplifier should never be worn for long periods of time, unlike a hearing aid, which must be worn all day, every day.
Amplifiers sold in pharmacies or on the Web are not adapted to everyone's condition. By purchasing a hearing aid from a hearing care professional, you can ensure that you get a device that is fully adapted to your hearing. Based on the results of your hearing test and your history, your audioprosthetist will make the appropriate adjustments during follow-up appointments, and will repair your hearing aids as needed.