Where to Get the Best Hearing Aids, Devices and Fittings in Tampa, FL

Clarity of sound, functionality, and unrivaled comfort are some of the main advantages of modern hearing aids. The path to hearing better begins with finding a hearing aid appropriate for your specific type and severity of hearing loss. Contact Parkside Audiology, FL, for a consultation so we can help you find the best solution for your hearing needs. Our trusted audiologists and hearing specialists in Florida are on a mission to ensure patient satisfaction and help you enjoy a normal, fulfilling life. We take pride in our long list of happy and satisfied patients across Tampa, Ruskin, Clearwater, Valrico, Temple Terrace, Oldsmar, and Dover, FL.

What are 3 Surprising Benefits of Getting Hearing Aids?

Considering getting hearing aids near Tampa? Today, hearing aids do a lot more than amplify sound. The latest hearing aids have artificial intelligence to “learn” which settings will give you the best sound in any environment. Here are just 3 benefits:

Drown out background noise. Avoiding noisy events because you can’t follow the conversation? Many hearing aids now allow you to identify which voices to focus on and which noises to turn down.
Get back on the ball. Unfortunately, one of the more serious side effects of hearing loss is cognitive decline. Our affordable hearing aids have been proven to help clients recover cognitive ability.
Reduce signs of tinnitus. If you’re one of the 15-33% of people who suffer from ringing or clicking in your ears, hearing aids may help.

Hearing aid technology can even help track your vital signs, similar to a fitness tracker, and sync to your smartphone.

Hearing Aid Technology Breaking Through Stigmas

Gone are the days where hearings aids were bulky appendages that didn’t work very well. The combination of new technology and discreet design is changing the outlook for people with hearing loss. Just a few years ago, less than 20 percent of people who needed hearing aids were wearing them. Studies now show public opinions have shifted. Hearing aids are now seen as an extension of your phone… an often undetectable one that dramatically improves the quality of your life. Imagine catching every word of conversation on the phone, or secretly tapping into the sound system of a theater to capture every note. Some models are even designed for swimming.

What Are the Best Types of Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are broken down into about five categories in general.

Completely-in-Canal Hearing Aids

One of the smallest models of hearing aids, made to fit completely inside the ear, is called a completely-in-canal, or CIC hearing aid. This type of hearing aid is basically invisible when it's inside of the ear.

Pros: Completely-in-canal hearing aids are very discrete and can effectively manage mild to moderate hearing loss. Because CIC hearing aids fit entirely inside the ear, wind noise is not as much of an issue.

Cons: CIC hearing aids also have some drawbacks. Their functionality can easily be hindered by the buildup of earwax. The lifespan of their battery is also usually shorter. Because they are small and space is limited, they will often lack some of the more sophisticated and advanced features.

In-the-Ear Hearing Aids

Usually, sitting in the part of the earlobe shaped like a bowl, in-the-ear, or ITE hearing aids are a bit less discrete than CIC models. ITE hearing aids can also be made to sit in the lower part of the bowl shape if you want a more discrete look. When the device sits in the upper part of the bowl, it's called a "full shell," and when the device sits in the lower part, they're called a "half shell".

Pros: Because they're larger, ITE hearing aids tend to be more customizable and are generally easier to handle. The battery on this type of hearing aid will usually have more life than smaller models, and they will typically come with a more robust group of features.

Cons: ITE hearing aids are less discrete than in-the-canal models as the majority of the hearing aid is outside the ear. Because they sit mostly outside the ear, ITE models can have a little more trouble with wind noise.

In-the-Canal Hearing Aids

In-the-canal, or ITC hearing aids, fit onto the outer edge of the ear. Most of the hardware will be visible outside of the ear, while the speaker will be inside of the ear.

Pros: ITC hearing aids are bigger, so they are able to house more advanced features and usually have longer battery life. The fit is also more comfortable for some people. ITC devices are not the largest type of hearing aids, so they are usually less obvious than larger models.

Cons: Because of their size and location, ITC devices are usually more obvious than CIC models. Accumulation of earwax can be a problem for the speakers. Because they're smaller, it can be a bit difficult for some people to adjust settings.

Receiver-in-the Ear and Behind-the-Ear Models

There are some similarities between receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) devices and behind-the-ear (BTE) models: the mechanical parts and the power supply sit behind the ear. The parts that go behind the ear are connected to the speaker, which is inside of the ear, via a small wire.

Pros: Both parts of this hearing aid can be readily replaced, making them a great option for people of any age. BTE and RITE hearing aids can amplify power, making them an ideal solution for people who suffer from moderate to severe hearing loss.

Cons: RITE and BTE devices are larger and more visible than other models, and although they come in various colors and have become a bit smaller, they're still fairly obvious.

Open-Fit Hearing Aids

An open-fit hearing aid is yet another type of BTE device. Much like other BTE types of hearing aids, open-fit devices have a speaker inside of the ear connected to the external mechanical parts via a thin tube. With an open-fit hearing aid, the ear canal remains relatively unblocked due to the small size of the microphone.

Pros: When you hear your own voice, it will be clear and sound natural because your ear canal will be unobstructed. Open-fit hearing aids are a good solution for people with hearing loss in the higher frequency range but who still have fairly good hearing in the lower frequency range.

Cons: Open-fit hearing aids are generally composed of smaller components so they can be a little harder to handle. They can be a bit more obvious than other models.

Hearing Aid Brands Available at Parkside Audiology in Tampa

Not all hearing aids are the same — and not all brands are right for every person. At Parkside Audiology, we carry the leading manufacturers in hearing technology so we can match you to the device that fits your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your budget. Here’s a brief overview of the brands we work with:

Phonak — One of the most widely trusted hearing aid brands in the world.

Oticon — Oticon’s BrainHearing™ technology is designed to reduce the listening effort your brain has to do, helping you hear more naturally in complex listening situations.

ReSound — ReSound is known for producing some of the most natural-sounding hearing aids on the market, with excellent Bluetooth performance and compatibility with both iPhone and Android devices.

Starkey — An American-made brand that goes beyond hearing, Starkey’s latest devices offer features like fall detection, activity tracking, and health monitoring alongside excellent speech processing.

Widex — Widex hearing aids are especially respected for rich, natural sound quality and their built-in tinnitus relief programs.

Signia — Signia offers both discreet, deeply fitting models and rechargeable behind-the-ear devices with advanced own-voice processing, making your own speech sound more natural to you.

Not sure which brand is right for you? That’s exactly what your consultation with one of Parkside’s Doctors of Audiology is for. We’ll review your audiogram, walk through options together, and let you try before you commit.

How We Fit and Support Your Hearing Aids — From Day One and Beyond

Choosing the right hearing aid is just the beginning. What separates a life-changing hearing aid experience from a disappointing one is almost always what happens after you leave the fitting appointment. At Parkside Audiology, our Doctors of Audiology are with you for the long run.

Real-Ear Measurement: Your Fitting, Verified by Science

Every hearing aid fitting at Parkside includes real-ear measurement (REM), an objective test that places a small, painless probe microphone in your ear canal to measure exactly how much amplified sound is reaching your eardrum while you wear the device. This ensures your hearing aids are programmed precisely to your prescription, based on the actual acoustics of your unique ear canal. Many practices skip this step and rely on manufacturer defaults, we don't. REM is the clinical gold standard, and it is standard practice at Parkside.

Your First Weeks with Hearing Aids

It's completely normal for new hearing aids to require some adjustment. Your brain is relearning how to process sounds it hasn't heard clearly in a while. We schedule follow-up appointments in the weeks after your fitting to:

Fine-tune programming based on your real-world feedback
Ensure comfort across the different environments you live and work in
Answer questions and troubleshoot anything that's not working perfectly

Ongoing Care That Goes the Distance

Your hearing needs will change over time — and so will your technology. Parkside's support includes:

Routine cleaning and hearing aid maintenance
Reprogramming if your hearing changes
Repairs for devices of any brand, even those not purchased at Parkside
Annual hearing evaluations to track your hearing health year over year

No Sales Pressure. Ever.

All three of Parkside's audiologists: Dr. Kristen Decelles, Dr. Kelly McQueen, and Dr. Taylor Van Warner, hold doctoral-level Au.D. credentials. When you work with us, you're getting clinical care from a licensed Doctor of Audiology, not a commission-based sales rep. Our goal is to find the solution that's right for your hearing, and to still be your trusted provider five years from now.

Questions? Call or text us at 813-686-6858, or schedule online at our Tampa office on Henderson Blvd.

Which model of hearing aids will best suit your needs?

Which model of hearing aids will be best for you will depend on your type and level of hearing loss and your specific preferences. In order to determine the best solution for you in Tampa, contact us for a consultation and hearing test.

Reviewed by the Doctor of Audiology at Parkside Audiology

Still have questions? Ask our Doctor of Audiology!