Hearing Aids & Assistive Listening Solutions
Technology That Fits Your Life. Recommendations Built Around You.
Modern hearing aids are among the most sophisticated personal technology available today — and selecting the right one involves far more than browsing options online or choosing a brand you have heard of. At Casco Bay Hearing, the technology recommendation comes after a thorough evaluation and an honest conversation about your daily life, your listening challenges, your goals, and your budget. It is always a shared decision made between you and your provider.
At Casco Bay Hearing, hearing aid selection is a clinical and collaborative process. After your comprehensive hearing evaluation and communication needs assessment, we will have a thorough understanding of your hearing profile, your lifestyle, the specific situations where you struggle most, and what matters most to you in terms of comfort, discretion, connectivity, and budget.
How We Choose the Right Technology for You
From there, we discuss your options together. We explain what different technology levels and styles offer in plain language, answer every question honestly, and present recommendations with full transparency about what is included and what ongoing care and support will look like. The goal is always for you to leave feeling informed and confident — never rushed or pressured.
Every recommendation is rooted in clinical knowledge and a genuine understanding of your individual needs. Your evaluation results, your daily listening demands, your preferences, and your budget all shape what we suggest — and your input is always part of the conversation.
Assistive Listening Solutions for Everyday Life
Hearing aids are just one part of the picture. For many people, carefully selected accessories and assistive listening solutions make a meaningful difference in the situations that matter most — a busy restaurant, a favorite TV program, an important phone call, or staying safely connected at home.
At Casco Bay Hearing, we take a concierge approach to every aspect of your hearing care — including the accessories we recommend. Each solution is thoughtfully selected to integrate seamlessly into your lifestyle, enhance clarity in challenging environments, and support your overall quality of life. Nothing is offered without purpose, and everything is chosen with your individual needs in mind.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) / Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE)
One of the most versatile and widely prescribed styles available. The main device sits discreetly behind the ear, with a thin wire connecting to a small receiver that sits in or at the ear canal. RIC hearing aids can be fit with soft, non-custom domes in a range of sizes or with custom earmolds for a more secure and tailored fit. This style accommodates a wide fitting range — from mild hearing loss all the way through severe to profound — and is available in both rechargeable and traditional zinc air battery options across most technology levels.
Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids are available in a range of styles, each with distinct characteristics in terms of size, fit, power, features, and suitability for different types and degrees of hearing loss. During your consultation, we will discuss which styles are clinically appropriate for your hearing profile and personal preferences.
A Note on Battery Options
Nearly all major hearing aid styles are now available in both rechargeable and traditional zinc air battery versions. The best choice depends on your lifestyle, dexterity, daily routine, and personal preference — and is something we discuss as part of your individualized fitting consultation.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
BTE hearing aids sit fully behind the ear and connect to the ear via either a slim tube with a non-custom tip or a custom earmold. Available in very discreet, slim designs as well as larger, higher-power configurations, BTE hearing aids are appropriate for a wide range of hearing losses and patient needs. Like RIC devices, BTE hearing aids are available in both rechargeable and traditional zinc air battery options.
Custom Hearing Aids
Custom hearing aids are individually molded to the shape of each patient's ear canal, providing a precise and personalized fit. They are available in several sizes — from devices that fill the outer ear to nearly invisible options that sit deep within the ear canal. Custom styles include In-the-Ear (ITE), In-the-Canal (ITC), Completely-in-Canal (CIC), and Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) options. Fitting ranges, features, and battery options vary by style and manufacturer, and not every custom style is appropriate for every degree of hearing loss. During your consultation, we will discuss whether a custom style is a suitable option for your hearing profile.
Fitting Recommendations — One Ear or Two
Whether one or two hearing aids is the right recommendation depends entirely on your individual hearing evaluation results, the nature and degree of your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your personal goals. This is always discussed openly and collaboratively during your consultation, with a full explanation of the clinical reasoning behind any recommendation we make. There is no assumption made either way — every recommendation is based on your individual evaluation.
CROS & BiCROS Systems
For patients with little or no usable hearing in one ear, traditional hearing aids may not be the most effective solution. CROS and BiCROS systems offer a specialized approach designed specifically for single-sided hearing loss or significant asymmetry between ears.
CROS systems use a transmitter worn on the non-hearing or poorer ear to wirelessly send sound to a receiver worn on the better ear — allowing the wearer to hear sounds from their poorer side. This is appropriate for patients with normal or near-normal hearing in their better ear.
BiCROS systems work similarly but also include amplification at the receiver — making them appropriate for patients who have hearing loss in their better ear in addition to significant impairment on the other side.
Both systems can significantly improve awareness, reduce listening fatigue, and allow patients to participate more fully in conversations regardless of where sound is coming from. If your evaluation indicates that a CROS or BiCROS system may be appropriate, we will explain the options clearly and discuss whether this approach fits your needs.
The Manufacturers We Work With
We work with the leading hearing aid manufacturers in the industry — Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Widex, ReSound, Unitron and Signia. Each offers distinct technology platforms, processing approaches, connectivity features, and style options across a wide range of hearing losses and lifestyles.
Our clinical knowledge of these manufacturers and their products allows us to draw on a broad range of solutions when making recommendations — matching the right technology to the right patient based on what your evaluation and consultation reveal. If you have a preference or a prior experience with a particular brand, we welcome that conversation — your perspective is always part of the process.
Our Technology Levels
We offer five technology levels to ensure there is a well-supported, clinically appropriate option for every patient — regardless of budget or lifestyle. Every technology level receives the same standard of clinical care, the same thorough evaluation and consultation, and the same Real Ear Measurement verification at every fitting. The difference between levels reflects the sophistication of the hearing aid's processing power, the depth of its features, and its performance capability — particularly in complex, noisy listening environments.
Elite
Top-tier current generation technology offering the most advanced AI processing, speech-in-noise performance, and connectivity available today. Designed for patients who want the very best — in the most demanding listening environments life presents.
Premier
Mid-tier current generation technology with strong performance across varied and challenging listening environments, robust connectivity, and greater personalization options. Well-suited for patients with active, socially engaged lifestyles.
Advanced
Entry-level current generation technology providing access to the latest hearing aid platforms and AI-driven processing. A strong choice for patients who want current technology with a more accessible investment.
Plus
Previous generation technology with enhanced processing and improved performance across a broader range of listening environments. A meaningful step up in capability with continued affordability.
Essential
Previous generation hearing technology offering reliable, clinically appropriate amplification. A solid, well-supported option for patients whose primary listening environments are quieter or less complex, or for those who are budget-conscious and prefer a shorter-term service commitment.
Assistive Listening Devices & Everyday Solutions
Hearing aids address the majority of daily listening needs for most patients — but the right accessories and assistive devices can extend the benefits of better hearing into situations that even the best hearing aids may not fully resolve on their own. At Casco Bay Hearing, we help patients identify and access the tools that complete their hearing care picture — because great hearing care is about the whole person and every part of their life, not just what happens in the exam room.
Remote Microphones
Wireless microphones that transmit directly to your hearing aids — ideal for noisy restaurants, meetings, lectures, and one-on-one conversations at a distance. Remote microphones significantly improve speech clarity in situations where background noise is a persistent challenge.
TV Streamers
Stream audio directly from your television to your hearing aids at a comfortable volume and clarity level — without turning up the TV for everyone else in the room.
CaptionCall Phones
CaptionCall is a free captioning telephone service that displays real-time captions of phone conversations on a large, easy-to-read screen — making phone calls more accessible and comfortable for those with hearing loss. We can help guide you through getting set up with CaptionCall as part of your overall hearing care.
Bed Shaker & Vibrating Alerting Systems
Safety and awareness at home matter — especially overnight when hearing aids are not worn. Vibrating alarm clocks, bed shakers, and alerting systems that respond to doorbells, smoke detectors, phones, and other household sounds help patients stay safe and connected around the clock.
Ear Gear & Deaf Metal Jewelry
Ear Gear protective covers slip over hearing aids to shield them from moisture, sweat, dust, and everyday wear — significantly extending the life and reliability of your devices. Particularly useful for active patients and those who perspire heavily or spend time outdoors. We also offer Deaf Metal® jewelry — stylish, functional pieces designed to help secure hearing devices while allowing you to express your personal style with confidence in everyday life.
Cleaning Kits & Maintenance Supplies
We provide hearing aid cleaning kits, replacement domes, wax guards, and maintenance supplies to keep your devices performing at their best between clinic visits.
Professional Moisture Management — Redux Pro
Moisture is one of the most common and least recognized causes of hearing aid performance issues. Even water-resistant devices accumulate moisture through daily sweat, humidity, and environmental exposure — and that moisture affects sound quality, reliability, and device longevity over time.
At Casco Bay Hearing, we use the Redux Pro professional dehumidification system for in-office moisture management. Using patented vacuum-chamber technology, Redux removes 100% of moisture from hearing aids in minutes — safely, without damaging rechargeable batteries, and with a real-time report of exactly how much moisture was removed. Research shows that 77% of hearing aids improve in performance after a Redux treatment, and that moisture contributes to the majority of hearing aid malfunctions that patients experience.
Redux drying is available during routine maintenance visits and as a standalone service — and can often resolve performance issues that might otherwise require a repair or manufacturer service, saving both time and money.
Auditory Training Resources
Hearing aids provide the sound — but the brain does the listening. For many patients, particularly those new to hearing aids or returning to better hearing after years of untreated loss, the brain benefits from time and practice to fully adapt to improved sound input.
Auditory training programs are designed to strengthen the brain's ability to process and interpret sound, supporting better listening outcomes over time. At Casco Bay Hearing, we provide patients with access to free or fee based auditory training resources to support this adjustment and maximize long-term success — because the best hearing outcomes come from both great technology and an engaged, practiced brain.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Choosing hearing technology can feel overwhelming — and it doesn't have to. At Casco Bay Hearing, the process always begins with listening to you. We will take the time to understand your hearing, your life, and what you need — and we will guide you to the right solution from there.
Your hearing care journey starts with a single conversation — and we are here for it.
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Serving patients throughout Biddeford, Saco, the greater Portland area, and southern Maine.