Hearing Aid Services in Rye, NY

Audiology and Speech Solutions provides expert hearing aid services in Rye and Westchester, NY.

Hearing aids are indispensable tools to help improve, manage, or treat hearing loss. With the right prescription, fitting, and adjustments, hearing aids can offer a significant change and improve the quality of life of a person with hearing loss.

Audiology and Speech Solutions can help you select the hearing aid most ideal for your hearing needs and lifestyle. Our audiologists in Rye, NY are trained to offer hearing aid maintenance, repair, and adjustment services as needed.

Hearing Aid Selection 

With all the available hearing aid options on the market today, choosing the best and correct hearing aid may be quite tricky. Most – if not all – hearing aid brands will say they are the best, which could lead to confusion and uncertainty. 

In the process of hearing aid selection, the first thing you need to consider is the fact that hearing loss is not the same for everyone. Hearing loss varies in type and severity and you also have to factor in the lifestyle, budget, and other preferences of an individual. A hearing test is the first step in getting fitted for hearing aids. Audiology and Speech Solutions provides hearing tests in Rye and Westchester, NY.

We provide adult hearing tests, pediatric hearing tests, and tinnitus evaluations in Westchester County.

That being said, audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals play a big role in hearing aid selection. To fully maximize the features and benefits of hearing aids, proper fitting, adjustment, and real ear measurement verification should be performed.

Recently, a current hearing aid patient came in for a follow-up programming appointment after experiencing difficulty hearing in a noisy restaurant environment, particularly when his partner was seated on his poorer-hearing side. He also reported that the tinnitus in that ear had become increasingly bothersome and was “roaring.”

During the visit, I made adjustments to improve speech clarity in background noise and fine-tuned his hearing aid programs to provide more aggressive support in challenging listening situations. We also spent time discussing realistic expectations given the severity of hearing loss in his poorer ear.

To address his tinnitus concerns, I activated and customized a tinnitus masking program within his hearing aids. As soon as it was turned on, before I had a chance to explain what I had done, he smiled and said, “Wow! That sounds like silk.” He immediately noticed improved comfort and reported that my voice sounded clearer and sharper than when he arrived.

Before leaving, he shared a conversation he recently had with a friend who purchased hearing aids through Costco. He told her that while hearing aids can be purchased in many places, the level of personalization, expertise, and ongoing care he receives at Audiology & Speech Solutions is what truly makes the difference. Hearing comments like these reinforces the value of individualized care and long-term patient relationships.

— Dr. Michelle Brady Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA, Audiologist, Audiology and Speech Solutions

Hearing aid styles 

To help make hearing aid selection easier, below are the basic hearing aid styles available:

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)

CIC hearing aids are placed in the ear canal. This type of hearing aid is ideal for individuals who want a discreet hearing aid option. Completely-in-canal hearing aids are custom-fit to fit the unique ear anatomy using an ear canal impression. When fitted and programmed correctly, CIC hearing aids can provide maximum comfort and superb sound quality.

In-the-Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids, also referred to as half-shell hearing aids, are worn on the lower part of the ear. Most ITC hearing aids are enclosed in a lightweight plastic shell and are custom-made to fit the wearer’s unique ear anatomy.

In-the-Ear (ITE)

In-the-ear hearing aids are custom-made and available in two styles – -full shell and half shell. Full-shell ITE hearing aids fill the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear while half-shell ITEs only occupy the lower part.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE)

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are worn on top of or behind the outer ear with tubing that leads the sound down to the ear canal through a custom-fit earmold. BTEs can also come with a dome design that prevents blocking the entire ear canal opening.

Hearing Aid Fitting

Once you’ve selected your preferred hearing aid, the next step is hearing aid fitting. This step is very crucial because this is when the devices will actually be placed inside the ear. Hearing aid fitting appointments are considered to be the final step before individuals with hearing loss experience significantly improved hearing.

After a successful hearing aid fitting, programming and adjusting will take place. Make sure to cooperate with and be open to your audiologist during this step to ensure that you are getting the best possible hearing improvement from your hearing aids.

How long do hearing aid fittings take?

A lot of factors can affect the duration of hearing aid fittings, but in most cases, it can last between 45 minutes to two hours.

Real ear measurements

Real ear measurements (REM), otherwise known as probe microphone measurements, are considered to be the gold standard in determining whether a hearing aid user is receiving the most accurate level of amplification at every frequency.

Since hearing loss is unique for each individual, real ear measurements must be carried out to ensure that hearing aids are programmed specifically for a wearer’s hearing requirements.

Hearing Aid Programming and Adjustments 

Thanks to modern technology, smartphones, and dedicated apps, programming and adjusting hearing aids are made more accessible. However, we highly suggest that you entrust hearing aid programming and adjusting to professionals to ensure that you are getting the best hearing experience possible.

At Audiology and Speech Solutions, we provide excellent after-sales services to ensure that our clients are receiving the best hearing care possible.

Hearing Aid Repairs 

No matter how you take care of your appliances or devices, there will come a time when they get broken or need some maintenance or servicing. Similarly, hearing aids may also need some repair, cleaning, maintenance, or updating from time to time.

We offer hearing aid repairs and maintenance for various hearing aid brands.

Hearing Aid Cleaning and Maintenance in Rye, NY

Hearing aids work best when they are kept clean. At our Rye, NY office we offer professional cleaning and maintenance for your devices, clearing wax and debris from the parts you cannot reach at home and checking that everything is working as it should.

Bring your hearing aids in for a quick cleaning, or book a full maintenance check if they sound weak or muffled. Regular upkeep keeps them reliable and helps them last longer.

How to Clean Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are exposed to earwax, moisture, and skin oils every day, so a simple cleaning routine matters more than most people expect. Here’s how to do it at home between professional cleanings:

1. Wipe them down daily. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the entire hearing aid after you remove it each evening. Never use water, alcohol, or household cleaning sprays moisture and solvents can damage the microphone and receiver.
2. Remove earwax and debris. Use the small brush or wax pick that came with your hearing aids to clear wax from the microphone ports and any visible openings. Brush away from the opening, not into it.
3. Check and change the wax guard. Most hearing aids use a small wax guard or filter at the tip that catches earwax before it reaches internal components. Replace it as soon as it looks clogged a blocked wax guard is one of the most common reasons a hearing aid suddenly sounds muffled or quiet.
4. Dry them out overnight. Store your hearing aids in a dehumidifier or dry-storage case overnight, especially if you sweat during the day or live somewhere humid. Moisture buildup is one of the leading causes of early device failure.
5. Handle them gently. Set hearing aids down on a soft surface, keep them in their case when not worn, and avoid exposing them to extreme heat or cold (leaving them in a hot car, for example).
6. Schedule a professional cleaning periodically. At-home care removes surface wax and debris, but the microphones and receivers inside a hearing aid are small enough that a full clean-out is best left to your audiologist. At Audiology & Speech Solutions, we offer in-office cleaning and maintenance checks in Rye, NY. Bring your hearing aids in if they start sounding weak, muffled, or inconsistent, even if you’re keeping up with cleaning at home.

How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?

Most hearing aids last 3 to 7 years, with around 5 years being a common point where audiologists start discussing replacement. The exact lifespan depends on a few factors:

• Style of hearing aid. Behind-the-ear (BTE) models tend to last longer often 5 to 7 years because their electronics sit in a durable casing outside the ear canal, away from earwax and moisture. In-the-ear and completely-in-canal styles sit closer to that moisture and wax exposure, so they typically last closer to 3 to 5 years.
• Daily care. Hearing aids worn 12+ hours a day accumulate wear quickly. Consistent nightly cleaning and dry storage can meaningfully extend how long a device performs well.
• Technology changes. Even a well-maintained hearing aid may be replaced sooner than its parts wear out, simply because newer technology offers a meaningfully better listening experience this is one reason the real-world average replacement cycle (closer to 5 years) tends to run shorter than the outer end of the lifespan range.

If your hearing aids are sounding weaker, requiring more frequent adjustments, or are five years or older, it’s worth scheduling a check-up.

We can tell you whether reprogramming and a professional cleaning will solve the issue, or whether it’s genuinely time to talk about a replacement.

Professional Hearing Aid Services in Rye, NY

Audiology and Speech Solutions provides comprehensive hearing aid services including audiological, speech, language, and auditory processing evaluations.

With over 40 years of experience with individuals with hearing loss, hearing aids, and therapy, Dr. Datino, owner and head audiologist of Audiology and Speech Solutions, provides individualized treatment by taking your unique circumstances into account.

Contact us today to learn more about our audiologists and hearing aids in Rye, NY!