When choosing a digital hearing aid, you should consult with a specialist on which functionality and options a particular model offers, and how it differs from other models.

When choosing a hearing aid, number of physical factors should be considered:

The type and extent of hearing loss, the structure of the ear – depending on the type and extent of hearing loss, peculiarities of the structure of the external ear (or absence thereof), an intra-aural, behind-the-ear or pocket hearing aid will be chosen.

Should one or two aids be used? If you suffer from hearing loss in both ears, you must use two hearing aids. This is not required to double the volume, but because by simulating the natural hearing process the dual hearing aids will enable you to better determine where the sound originates from. They will also help avoid a condition known as “auditory deprivation,” when the ear becomes “lazy” due to the lack of stimulation.

There is a number of individual factors to be taken into consideration when choosing the hearing aid:

The need for intercommunication. Define those situations when you would like to improve your hearing. What would you like to achieve at work or at home? The information of your needs will help the specialist select the solution that would be suitable for you.

The external appearance (cosmesis). There are hearing aids of different sizes. The smaller a hearing aid is, the smaller its control devices and batteries are. There are bright colored hearing aids for children.

The price. There are hearing aids of different price ranges. They have different functionalities and available options.

The sound quality. A digital hearing aid is based on a high performance computer chip to ensure the highest sound quality. Owing to the broad functionality of Oticon hearing aids, users can enjoy a comfortable and natural perception of speech and environmental sounds.

To assess the quality of how well the patient was fitted with hearing aids, the following experiences are evaluated:

compensation of the impaired perception of the volume and frequency of sounds;

adequate voice intelligibility in various real world situations (in silence, in a noisy environment, during a group discussion, etc.);

natural perception of sounds (speech, own voice, music, environmental sounds);

an adequate localization of sounds (in case of double–sided deafness, fitting with dual heaing aids is required);

no feedback (hissing noise).

The audioprosthetists from the audiology department SATR Center will help select the hearing aid depending on the user’s hearing needs and expectations. The price of the services rendered to the patient includes the cost of the hearing aid, selection and setting up, and manufacturing of a custom mold. The tuning up process is not only the initial setup of the device during your first visit, but the entire tuning up, including the adaptation period. The standard warranty period for the hearing aid is one year.

Audiometric evaluation is free, if the patient purchases a hearing aid. However, the Center charges for this service, if the patient simply wishes to have their hearing evaluated. A detailed operation manual is always provided along with the purchased hearing aid. SATR Center performs warranty and post-warranty repair of hearing aids.

The time required for the patient to become comfortable with and adapt to the hearing aids can be quite long and varies between several days and several months. The duration of the adaptation period depends on a number of factors, such as the patient’s age, the body’s individual adaptive capabilities, previous experience with hearing aids, as well as the time passed since the patient has acquired hearing loss to the day of deciding to get fitted. It is more difficult for babies and the elderly to adapt to a new hearing aid. The sooner the person is fitted after their loss of hearing, the more effect fitting will have, and the faster and easier the adaptation will be.

For the habilitation and rehabilitation of children fitted with hearing aids to be successful, sessions with the education audiologist are a must. During such sessions with a child, the audiologist can also evaluate if the hearing aids are tuned up properly and advise the audioprosthetist accordingly.

Children’s adaptation to hearing aids requires an individual program for each child.
Unlike adults, children are substantially more sensitive to various disturbing factors, including excessive acoustic strains. Therefore, a custom schedule is to be prepared for each child to adapt to the hearing aids.

The primary strategy for fitting babies suggests that the hearing aids must not be prosthetics, but rather training devices that develop the auditory sense.
During the first phase of adaptation, the time of exposure to the sounds is gradually extended.
At the second stage, the sound intensity is increased step by step.
Parents are actively engaged in their child’s adaptation to the hearing aids, as they keep an adaptation journal to record such possible reactions of their child as a negative attitude to the hearing aids, tiredness, or irritation with loud sounds.

The specifics of fitting children under 4 is that the quality of the fit may be assessed solely how quickly the child learns to use words and continuous speech. By reviewing the child’s development progress and the parents’ journal, the audiologist adjusts the parameters of the hearing aid or decides to replace it. Thus, fitting the child takes about 3 to 6 months, and successful fitment is only possible if the parents are actively engaged, and the child is under continuous supervision of the audiologist.

Early diagnosis, as well as the high quality of modern hearing aids create all the conditions required for early fitting of children. For babies experiencing hearing loss during the first months of their lives, the optimal fitting age is 4–6 months. The period of adaptation to the hearing aids is individual for each baby and varies between one week and several months. Children aged above one year often require several months to become comfortable with their hearing aids.
Parents together with education audiologists have to teach the child to hear using the hearing aids. After the child becomes interested in sounds and learns to understand them, they will readily wear hearing aids.
When fitting babies, it is preferable to use digital hearing aids as they ensure high acoustic quality and fine tuning, as well as protection from excessive amplification of loud sounds.

When selecting hearing aids for children, it is critical to choose a model that will provide a 30–35% power margin, as some children tend to experience progressive hearing loss during the first years of their lives, and such a “power margin” may compensate it.
Constant monitoring of the child’s hearing and evaluating the performance of the hearing aid are necessary. If the child’s hearing deteriorates, they may require replacing their hearing aid with an enhanced model. Effectively setting up hearing aids for babies is possible only when the audioprosthetist teams up with the education audiologist, and with the parents engaged in the child’s rehabilitation.
The specialists and parents watch the development of the child’s reaction to human speech and sounds of the environment, the development of child’s own speech, and notice any potential negative reactions to the sounds. The parents are advised to keep a journal recording their child’s auditory reactions.
Please contact your audioprosthetist from SATR Center for more details.

SATR Center’s audiology department tests patients for vertigo and vestibular system disorders. Our audiologist performs the cutting-edge examination called videonystagmography using modern medical equipment.
Videonistagmography is a modern, accurate method of testing the human vestibular system based on measuring and identifying involuntary eye movement called nystagmus. It is used to diagnose conditions of vertigo related to the central nervous system and the middle ear.
Appropriate cases to use videonystagmography: differential diagnostics of vertigo, benign positional vertigo, vestibular neuronitis, Meniere's disease, neuroma (schwannoma) of the auditory nerve and other conditions
How the test is done: the patient has to put on a light plastic mask with built-in cameras that measure eye movement and transmit data onto a computer. Afterwards, the obtained data is processed by specially designed software. The testing process involves the patient visually following a target projected onto a screen, making certain head and body movements and having their eardrum stimulated from two sides by alternating hot and cold air (caloric reflex test). Additionally, the patient’s walk and movement coordination are also examined.
On the day prior to taking the test, it is recommended to forego taking any medication that may inhibit the vestibular system (e.g. tranquilizers or betahistine) and refrain from using eye make-up. The duration of the testing procedure is 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Appointments can be scheduled by dialing reception at +7 (727) 3944623 и 3944513.