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Hearing Aids Overview
Hearing aids have improved greatly with the advent of digital technology. If you’re picturing big and bulky devices with questionable sound quality, you’ll be pleased to learn today’s instruments are smaller, more comfortable and provide sound that is more natural. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, so finding one that appeals to your lifestyle needs and cosmetic preferences should be easy.
What are the Different Types of Hearing Aids?
Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
An RIC hearing aid consists of a tiny housing containing all electronics except the receiver, which is positioned behind the ear. A thin tube connects the housing to the receiver, which is worn in the concha (bowl-shaped portion) of the ear.
It’s a small and discreet unit but powerful enough for treating mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
The most popular style of hearing aid (about 60 percent of users choose this type), a BTE device is curved to match the contour of the ear and rests directly behind the ear. The housing, which contains all the electronics, is encased in plastic and connects to the ear canal with a thin, clear tube or ear mold.
Though more visible than other styles, the BTE is simple to use, making it a popular choice for children. It’s powerful enough for all types of hearing loss.
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
This hearing aid is placed in the ear canal and is the smallest available. It takes advantage of the ear’s natural ability to collect sound, and its discreet size makes the device virtually invisible to others.
The trade-off is a shorter battery life (ranging from 3-5 days), and it may prove difficult to adjust for those with poor manual dexterity. This is a good choice for mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Canal (ITC)
This style is also designed to fit in the ear canal, but not as deeply as a CIC device, resting securely in the lower portion instead. It’s a little larger, making it easier to insert and remove and extending the battery life from anywhere between 8-12 days.
This style is best for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
This hearing aid is designed to fill the outer portion of the ear, and is larger than those worn in the ear canals. It is less discreet, but the size allows for more features and makes the unit easier to adjust.
A bigger battery translates to longer life and means those with severe or profound hearing loss can benefit from this style.
Most ITE style hearing aids have a battery life between 12-14 days.
Choosing a Hearing Aid
If you are experiencing hearing loss, odds are good that you’ll benefit from a hearing aid. But choosing the right one is no simple task. Today’s hearing aids are smaller and more feature-packed than their predecessors, offering an array of options.
Narrowing the choices down can be tough, but there are a few important things you should take into consideration before choosing a hearing aid.
Additional considerations that will help your Doctor pair you with the right hearing aid include:
Lifestyle Needs: Functionality is an important consideration. With so many available features, you’ll need to decide which ones matter most to you. Features like Bluetooth® connectivity, Auracast® compatibility, telecoil, automatic volume controls, rechargeable batteries, smart device App connectivity, and AI-Assisted on the fly adjustments are becoming more commonplace, but aren’t available in all models yet.
Cosmetic Preferences: Hearing aids are available in a variety of sizes and styles, some visible while others are implanted deep within the ear canal, rendering them virtually undetectable. Many are custom-molded to fit each individual’s ears.
Budgetary Considerations: Not all hearing aids work the same. Prescriptive hearing aid technologies are available with different levels of intelligence and performance. While all hearing aids are designed to identify live human speech and amplify that signal, the lesser expensive hearing aids may not do much more. More advanced hearing aid technologies will help to reduce competing background noises around you, which allows you to hear the conversations you want to hear - more easily and more clearly.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids: The phrase "what you see is what you get" often applies to over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. OTC aids have limited volume options, which means they are not helpful for individuals who have greater than a moderate degree of hearing loss. And, OTC devices require the buyer to self-fit and self-adjust them. The buyer will also be responsible for cleaning and troubleshooting the devices. This forces the customer to become their own hearing healthcare provider.
An audiologist can help you make the best choice for you
Prescriptive hearing aids range widely in cost. Finding the right hearing aid for your needs depends largely on the results of your ear-to-brain diagnostic assessment. For example, if you have difficulty hearing conversations in the presence of background noise, then the least expensive hearing aid may not be a very good choice for you hear your best.
After your ear-to-brain diagnostic assessment, our staff will schedule you for a Personalized Treatment Plan (PTP) visit. At your PTP visit, our doctors will sit down with you to review your results and your lifestyle listening needs. You will receive a recommendation on hearing aids that is perfectly suited to your unique hearing needs and your budget.