Hearing is one of the most vital senses people have. This is why people who lose their hearing also lose the ability to safely navigate their surroundings. Luckily, hearing aids have been invented to help people who have suffered from hearing loss. These small, unassuming devices help people with hearing disorders better capture the sounds in their surroundings and send signals to their brains and interpret these sounds.
All hearing aids use the same mechanisms and components to carry out the actions that enable the wearer to hear. However, just like picking out other electrical devices, there are some hearing aids that work more effectively for you than others. Therefore, if you are shopping around for a hearing aid, you need to take time to choose the right one.
Types and Styles of Hearing Aids: Which One Is Best?
1 – CIC or Completely in the Canal
Adults who have mild to moderate hearing loss can benefit from this type of hearing aid. This kind of hearing aid is modified to fit into your ear canal and is the smallest and least visible type of hearing aid on the market. One of the advantages of this hearing aid type is that since it is placed so far into the ear, it is less likely to pick up wind noises. However, it may also be susceptible to ear wax covering the speaker, affecting the sound quality.
2 – ITC or In the Canal
This type of hearing aid is only partly placed into the ear canal and may also help adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. It may be a little bit more visible than the CIC hearing aid but is less visible than other types. Its speaker may also be obscured by earwax since it will be placed inside the ear canal.
3 – ITE or In the Ear
ITE hearing aids are more visible and are slightly bigger than CIC and ITC models. These are hearing aids that can be of help to people who have severe hearing loss. ITE hearing aid models are placed on the outer part of the ear and will be more visible than the smaller hearing aids that go into the ear canal. These will be able to pick up more sounds and have longer battery lives than the smaller hearing aid types.
4 – BTE or Behind the Ear
Behind the Ear hearing aids are some of the most conspicuous types. They consist of a hearing aid that rests on the outer ear and goes over the ear for support. This type of hearing aid may be used to help people with various severities of hearing loss.
5 – RIC or Receiver in Canal
This type of hearing aid is similar to a BTE hearing aid but has a wire that is connected to a speaker or receiver that sits in the ear canal. It has directional microphones and manual control options to control the sound that is received.
Conclusion
Different people have different needs when it comes to hearing aids. Depending on the age and severity of hearing loss, different devices aids will answer the various medical needs and priorities of different patients. If you have partial or full hearing loss, the first step to gaining your ability to hear back is to visit a hearing care specialist. These professionals will be able to examine your ear and recommend the best type of hearing aid depending on your needs.
At Hear More Associates, we understand that there is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to hearing aids. With multiple styles, multiple technology levels, and multiple price-points, we work with you to understand your unique circumstances, lifestyle, budget, and needs. We then make recommendations based on our expertise to help you choose the right hearing aids for you – all firmly with our transparent, honest, and caring approach to educating and helping you make the best decision. If you are looking for a hearing specialist, come visit us today!
