Types of hearing aids

Maybe you've thought about getting a hearing aid, but you're stressed about how it will look or whether it will really offer assistance. Hearing aids can't restore normal hearing, however they can improve your hearing by amplifying soft sounds, helping you hear sounds in difficult listening situation, such as, in noisy environment. These are the main concern before you get a get a hearing aid:

· The hearing aid options available to you

· What to look for when buying a hearing aid

· How to get used to it

How hearing aids work

Hearing aids use the same basic parts to carry sounds from the environment into your ear and make them louder. Most hearing aids are digital, and all are powered with a hearing aid battery.

Sounds from the environment are collected by the small microphone and then amplified by computer chip to converts the incoming sound into digital code. It analyse and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers.

Amar, Audiologist

Hearing aid styles

Hearing aids vary a great deal in price, size, special features and the way they're placed in your ear.

The following are common hearing aid styles, starting with the smallest, least visible in the ear. Hearing aids are getting smaller as the technology grow in order to fulfil the demand that is not very noticeable. Remember, the smaller aids may not have enough power to cater with severe to profound hearing loss.

1) Completely in the canal (CIC) or mini CIC

A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid is customized to fit inside your ear canal. It can assist up to moderate hearing loss.

A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid:

·         Is the smallest and least visible type

·         Is less likely to pick up wind noise

·         Uses very small batteries, which have shorter life and can be difficult to handle

·         Doesn't contain extra features, such as volume control or a directional microphone

·         Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker

2) In the canal (ITC)

An in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is another customized hearing aid and fits partly in the ear canal. This style can cover from mild to severe hearing loss in adults.

An in-the-canal hearing aid:

·         Is less visible in the ear than larger styles

·         Includes features that won't fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but may be difficult to adjust due to its small size

·         Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker

3) In the ear (ITE)

An in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid is custom made in two styles — one that fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear (full shell) and one that fills only the lower part (half shell). Both are helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss.

An in-the-ear hearing aid:

·         Includes features that don't fit on smaller style hearing aids, such as a volume control

·         May be easier to handle

·         Uses a larger battery for longer battery life

·         Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker

·         May pick up more wind noise than smaller devices

·         Is more visible compared to ITC and CIC

4) Behind the ear (BTE)

A behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. A tube connects the hearing aid to a custom earpiece called an earmold that fits in your ear canal. This type is appropriate for people of all ages and those with almost any type of hearing loss even profound level.

A behind-the-ear hearing aid:

·         The largest type of hearing aid

·         Is capable of more amplification than any other styles

·         May pick up more wind noise than other styles

5) Receiver in canal or receiver in the ear (RIC)

The receiver-in-canal (RIC) and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) styles are similar to a behind-the-ear hearing aid with the speaker or receiver in the canal or in the ear. A tiny wire, rather than tubing, connects the pieces.

A receiver-in-canal hearing aid:

·         Has a less visible behind-the-ear portion

·         Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker

6) Open fit

An open-fit hearing aid is like behind-the-ear hearing aid but with a thin tube. This style keeps the ear canal very open, allowing for low-frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally and for high-frequency sounds to be amplified through the hearing aid. This makes the style a good choice for people with sloping loss at higher frequencies.

An open-fit hearing aid:

·         Is less visible

·         Making your own voice sound better to you

·         May be more difficult to handle and adjust due to small parts

Written by:

Amar Ruzai;