HEARING AIDS At Fairfax Hearing Center, each hearing care purchase includes: FREE Batteries for the life of the hearing aids FREE quarterly cleanings/check-ups FREE follow-up visits FREE annual hearing screenings TWO YEAR repair TWO YEAR loss warranty HEARING AID STYLES
	Behind-The-Ear (BTE) instruments are appropriate for hearing losses from mild to profound. Directional microphones, multiple listening programs, telecoil, and Bluetooth® compatibility are available. This instrument style also allows an open fit that increases patient comfort and reduces the “head in a barrel” sensation that often comes from smaller devices that fully obstruct the ear canal.
	Receiver-In-the-Ear (RITE) hearing devices are comfortable because they keep the ear canal open to reduce any plugged-up sensation. The appropriateness of these hearing devices depends on the patient’s degree of hearing loss. Advanced features may include Bluetooth® compatibility.
	The Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC) hearing instrument is appropriate for patients with a mild hearing loss. The appropriateness of this style depends on the patient’s degree of hearing loss and level of manual dexterity. Available features and options are also limited due to small size.
	The In-The-Canal (ITC) style hearing instrument is a smaller model than the full-shell ITE and is appropriate for hearing losses from mild to moderately severe. Features may be somewhat limited due to size. Good manual dexterity is important for this style.
	A custom In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing instrument fills the outer portion of the ear. This style is appropriate for mild to severe hearing losses and may include features such as directional microphones, multiple listening programs, a telecoil or Bluetooth® compatibility.
	Lyric® is the first and only extended wear hearing device that is 100% invisible. Lyric is comfortably placed in the ear canal by a Lyric trained hearing professional and can be worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for months at a time.* No surgery or anesthesia is required. Unlike many other hearing aids, Lyric is positioned completely inside the ear canal, so it uses your ear’s natural anatomy to provide exceptional sound quality. Lyric lets you hear better and live life to the fullest! Learn more on our Lyric Page

WHY ARE TWO HEARING AIDS BETTER THAN ONE?
The truth is, we don’t even hear in our ears. Actually, we “hear” in our brains which processes to two ears. Hearing with two ears is called binaural hearing. Binaural means “two together”. Sound localization is very dependable for both of our ears. For example, when we hear something in the distance such as a car approaching, nature tells us which direction it’s coming from. Isn’t it so hard to understand what is being said in noisy places? When we are surrounded with many different sounds, hearing with both ears enables us to hear the message being sent. Approximately, 80 percent of people who have hearing loss have it in both ears. Still, people only wear one hearing aid. Amplifying only one ear when both ears have hearing loss can you put you at a big disadvantage. However, with two hearing aids, your life could just get a whole lot better!

You will have a better understanding of speech and others will understand your speech better. By wearing two hearing aids, listening is easier. Your brain can focus on the conversation that you are trying to listen to. Research has shown that people who wear two hearing aids, instead of one, understand speech and conversations much better. Binaural amplification will deliver more of the sounds you need. Then, your brain can process the sounds correctly. This makes it easier and more comfortable to be able to understand in certain situations. A lot of words and noises sound alike. But, with two hearing aids, sounds are more easily recognized and known. When in noisy situations, your speech will be improved when wearing two hearing aids.

You will have better sound quality and a better ability to tell the direction of the sound. Whenever you listen to a stereo or ipod, you use two speakers or ear phones. This gives you the smoothest, sharpest, most natural sound quality. The same is said for hearing aids. By wearing two hearing aids, you increase your hearing magnificently! Instead of 180 degrees reception, you get 360 degrees. This will provide a better sense of balance and sound quality. The better ability to tell the direction in which the sound is coming from is called localization. For example, in a social gathering, localization would allow you to hear from the direction that someone is speaking to you. If you were to step out in front of a car, you would be able to localize which way it is coming from. That could save your life! With binaural hearing, you will be able to sense better where sounds are coming from.

Research has shown that when you only wear one hearing aid, the ear that doesn’t have a hearing aid loses its ability to hear and understand as well. By wearing hearing aids in both ears, it will keep both ears active. Hearing will be less tiring and listening will be made pleasant. Binaural hearing aid wearers have reported that listening and participating in conversations is more pleasant with two hearing aids. Usually when you wear one hearing aid, you are straining to hear with your better ear. But, when you wear hearing aids in both ears, you won’t have to strain as much anymore. Also, you will turn the volume down on the hearing aids when you have two of them. It also causes a better reproduction of the amplified sounds.

You will have a wider hearing range. A person is able to hear sounds from a farther distance with two ears better than just one. Say, a voice that’s barely heard at 10 feet away with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet with two ears. Two-eared hearing results in a feeling of a balanced sound. Research shows that generally, people are more satisfied when wearing hearing aids binaurally than the people that wear only one.
In conclusion, wearing hearing aids binaurally can improve your hearing and lifestyle a lot! Hearing with one ear is like trying to see with one eye. Its possible, but not as effective. You won’t have to strain one ear all the time constantly, your speech will improve, you’ll be more satisfied and you’ll hear better. Binaural hearing is the way to go.