Hearing Aids & Technologies
Stay current with evolving technology solutions
Hearing tech should not only help you hear better, but also to function better. It should seamlessly fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals.
Chad Ruffin, MD
Cochlear Implant Surgeon
Bilateral Cochlear Implant Recipient
Hearing technology is rapidly evolving and encompasses a wide range of personal products from hearing aids, hearables and smartphone apps to assistive listening systems that can help you hear better in public spaces. We understand it can be overwhelming to try and navigate and comprehend how different products can meet your specific needs. This section provides consolidated information and resources to help.
Hear Here – Tech for Different Situations
Hearing well in different situations may require different technologies — what works best at home may not work well when you are out and about. We have listed different solutions for specific scenarios like watching television, talking on the phone, and more.
Hearing Aids 101
These small and essential pieces of hearing technology can help end the isolation of hearing loss and keep you engaged in your life. Hearing aids come in many styles and models and with optional components. Be sure to work with an audiologist or hearing aid specialist to get the best hearing aid for your lifestyle and needs.
Cochlear Implants
For people with severe and profound hearing loss, who struggle to hear with well fit hearing aids, cochlear implants (CIs) may be an option. CI’s are surgically implanted devices that bypass the damaged structures of the inner ear to create sound. Children as young as 6 months up to adults over 100 years old are benefitting from cochlear implants.
What Are Hearables?
Hearables are in-ear devices that can amplify general audio and voice frequencies. While hearables cannot treat severe loss, these non-prescription devices can be a good starting point for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Public Assistive Listening Systems
Hearing loops, FM and Infrared (IR) systems can help you hear better in places where is it often difficult to hear clearly. Assistive listening systems, or ALS, send amplified sound directly to your hearing aids, minimizing background noise.
Working with an Audiologist
Having a good, patient-centric audiologist or hearing aid specialist, is essential to living well with hearing loss. Get our tips on choosing the right provider and developing a partnership that can last your entire hearing loss journey.
Financial Assistance for Buying Hearing Aids
There is no getting around it — hearing aids are expensive, and you often need new devices every few years. The good news is that there are Washington State and national programs and organizations that can help you get the devices you need.