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About Us

Mike Grato

Mike Grato

Experienced Professional

           *** Our Mission ***

It is the mission of Clear Choice Hearing Solutions to ensure that all those who desire improved hearing and communication can receive the

transformation they seek, with 100% satisfaction.

That means providing hearing aids that address your needs at a price you can afford, and doing everything we can afterwards to ensure your continued success. We believe in educating people every step of the way to that success.

Mike started in the hearing health services in 2007 and instantly found his vocational passion. He is a member of the HHPA and

IHS. He is also an advocate for the HLAA, and a past Director/Advisor for the same.

Having been his grandparents’ sole caretaker in their last years, he

understands and cares for people in a way he could not, if he had not experienced this privilege.

As he continued in the hearing care field, he recognized the value he could add to peoples’ lives as they once again experienced birds singing, children laughing, even the shuffle of their own feet as they travel through life.

Mike worked with several companies and private practices, sensing some inflexibility in pricing and services due to corporate policies and regulations.

The Hearing Consultant’s job is to find out what the client wants, discover their needs and help them to achieve the solution.

 We want to give you more options and solutions without the stress, when making a decision that will improve the quality of your life.

We act with honesty and our prices are transparent.

This is what Clear Choice Hearing Solutions is all about.

Services

Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation

-Otoscopy-

Using  a video camera called an otoscope Mike will begin your hearing  evaluation with a full inspection of your ear canals by looking  inside  of your ears to make sure there is no obstruction to the ear drum like  wax or any other foreign matter. In order to be able to hear clearly,  our ear canals must be free from blockages and our eardrums must be  intact.


-Air Conduction Testing-

The  next step in your hearing evaluation will begin to see how well you are  able to hear sounds of various volumes of low to high frequencies.  You  will be asked to respond to a series of beeps in a variety of tones. By  indicating when you can hear the sound being played, it provides an  understanding of the pitches you are able to hear and evaluates all  sections of your ear and tells us to what level of volume you are able  to hear such tones.


-Bone Conduction Testing-

Many  instances of hearing loss originate in the inner ear, and with bone  conduction testing we find out how well the inner ear hears by  responding to low and high frequencies. By this testing we will be able  to determine exactly how well this portion of your ear is functioning. A  device will be placed over your mastoid bone behind your ear, this  device will send vibrations directly to your skull and in a manner  similar to air conduction testing, This will help us determine how well  you can interpret various pitches and frequencies presented from the  inner ear and will inform us of what kind of hearing loss your are  experiencing.


-Speech Recognition And Word Recognition Testing-

The  final portions of your hearing evaluation are intended to determine how  well you can hear and understand spoken words. During speech  recognition testing, recorded words will be played for you at  softer  volumes until you can no longer hear them. In a similar fashion, word  recognition testing asks that you repeat the words that are played at  your comfort level of volume to analyze how well you can both hear and  understand verbal communication. If we find that you do have a hearing  impairment, the results of these two tests will be helpful in  determining how effective hearing aids will be in your daily life.


-Speech In Noise (SIN) Testing-

Hearing  speech in the presence of background noise can be significantly more  difficult than in quiet.  This testing is necessary to find out how well  you understand speech in noise like areas such as restaurants. With  this information we will be able to recommend the appropriate hearing  devices and help provide proper expectations of your ability to  understand speech in noise.


-Real Ear Measurements-

One  of  the single if not the most important procedure that could ever be  performed on you and your hearing aids is Real Ear Measurement and Live  Speech Mapping.  Real Ear Measures, or Real Ear Verification, is the  only way to ensure that your hearing aids are programmed correctly to  your hearing loss prescription. Without using Real Ear Measurement,  fitting a hearing aid is complete guesswork. At your follow up will  conduct REM to insure that your fitting is correct based on your loss to  insure your getting the maximum performance from your hearing devices.


-Custom Ear Molds / Ear Plugs-

While  discussions around hearing loss often lead to a conversation about  hearing aids, another important element to your hearing ability is often  overlooked – protecting your ears from loud sounds. Like the popular  saying goes, prevention is the best medicine, and with hearing loss this  couldn’t be more true.

It can only take one instance  of hearing a loud sound for you to sustain permanent damage to your  hearing, and unfortunately many daily noises we encounter are much  louder than what our ears can handle. With over 15% of Americans  experiencing irreversible noise induced hearing loss, one thing is  clear: more education is needed around how to adequately protect our  hearing on a regular basis. We offer different styles and makes of molds  to protect your hearing.

Whether you’re in law  enforcement, are often around industrial equipment, or even enjoy  recreational hunting or swimming, custom ear plugs and earmolds will  make a huge difference in your ability to hear for years to come.

This  direct knowledge of the impact that loud sounds can have on our hearing  is why we are such strong advocates for preventing hearing loss before  it begins. Our patients find they have the most success when using  custom ear plugs and or earmolds, as these devices are comfortable and  protect your hearing during a wide range of activities.  


-Next Step-

We  will discuss these findings in great detail. Our goal is for you to  fully understand how your hearing impairment is affecting your daily  life and to offer resources and options for treatment and recommend the  best solution to accomplish this goal.

Finding  success with your new hearing aids is largely dependent on if you have  the right technology, programmed precisely to your hearing loss  prescription using Real Ear Measurement to test the validity of the  fitting based on your hearing loss and receive excellent training on how  to use your devices by applying best practices from the beginning of  your journey of better hearing.

Hearing Aid Styles

Introduction

Today,  there are more hearing aid styles available than ever before. This wide  range of options falls into two types of styles: Behind-the-ear (BTE)  and In-the-ear (ITE).  In the end, the best hearing aid for you will  address your unique hearing ability, lifestyle, and budget.

BTE hearing aids sit behind or on top of  the outer ear with a tube that connects to an ear tip or mold inside of  the ear canal. BTE’s offer the widest range of features, colors, sizes,  battery types, and degrees of power. Today,  they’re offered in small, discreet designs that are often unnoticeable  when worn. There are a variety of BTE styles available including:

Mini BTE

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Mini BTEs are the smallest of the BTEs and  equipped with a soft tip which come in various sizes and are  attached   the end of the tubing to enable airflow and sound to enter the ear canal  along with the amplified sounds, creating a more natural experience.

RITE / RIC

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Receiver-in-the-ear RITE or Receiver-in-canal RIC:

RITE  hearing aids are designed with the speaker built into the ear tip  instead of the main body of the hearing aid. They are often similar in  size to the Mini BTEs and are also relatively unnoticeable when worn.  Mini RITE’s are also available.

BTE with Earmold

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BTEs with Earmolds are designed with a custom earmold at  the tip of the discrete tubing directing sound into the ear canal. These  have a longer shape that follows the contour of the outer ear and  enables them to house more features and power.

ITE / IIC

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ITE hearing aids are worn in the ear  instead of resting behind it, and are custom-fit based on an impression  of the ear. There are a variety of ITE styles available including:

Invisible in-the-canal (IIC):

IIC  instruments are the smallest custom hearing aids available. They sit  deep within the canal and are nearly invisible to the naked eye.

CIC

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Completely in-the-canal CIC instruments fit into the ear canal, but not as deeply  as the IIC models. Slightly larger than the IIC, they are still  relatively hard to see.

ITC or Half Shell

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In-the-canal ITC instruments sit in the lower portion of the outer ear  bowl. Since they are slightly larger than the CIC, they are able to  hold additional features, including a larger battery, directional  microphones, and volume controls.

ITE or Full Shell

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ITE instruments fill the entire outer ear bowl. Their  larger size allows for more features and functions, including a larger  battery, directional microphones, volume controls, and larger receivers  for more severe hearing losses.

Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth Hearing Aids, Smartphone Apps, and More

Today’s  hearing aids offer more than just amplified sounds – they feature  advanced digital options that allow you to connect via Bluetooth to your  favorite electronic devices. Some hearing aids are designed  specifically for your iPhone® while others feature adaptability for  televisions, radios, and more. Now, hearing aids can offer even more  benefit to your daily life!

Part of what  makes this wireless connectivity so incredible is the ease of use that  comes along with your advanced hearing aid. In most cases, you can  install an app onto your smartphone that allows you to adjust the volume  or change the settings of your hearing aid. You can create a customized  hearing experience depending on the environment you’re in, all with the  discreet and simple action of touching the screen of your phone. Some  hearing devices can even work to pick up the sounds around you and  automatically adjust your settings based on your specific hearing needs.

Wireless  features also work to improve your hearing ability and the ease in  which you can communicate with others. Many hearing aids can link to  your phone via Bluetooth technology to provide clear and crisp  conversations. By streaming directly to your aids, you remove the  possibility of feedback or asking people to repeat themselves. Other  audio activities like enjoying podcasts, audiobooks, listening to music,  and more can also stream directly to your devices, allowing you to  enjoy your favorite hobbies once again. Try using your hearing aids as a  high-definition headset as well for an unparalleled listening  experience.

Contact Us / Map

The care you deserve.

Please send us a message, or call us for an appointment.

CCHearingSolutionsAZ.com

3131 N. Robert Rd. #3, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314, US

Mike Grato (928) 830-9101 Email: CCHearingSolutions@Yahoo.com

Hours

Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm


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