Hearing Aid Types

Feeling left behind because of hearing capabilities is nothing short of painful.  A person’s emotional and mental well-being is at stake, and unfortunately hearing loss deafness does not go away as time passes.  To combat these feelings of anxiety, frustration, and loneliness, there are multiple types of hearing aids that work with your own individual hearing needs to bring your hearing back to life.  Discover which ear hearing aid or body hearing aid is right for you.

Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids

Behind the ear hearing aids, or BTE hearing aids, are connected to a mold that is placed inside of your ear.  The receiver may be inside the ear, but the working functionality comes from a part that is fit directly behind the ear.  Behind the ear hearing aids are attached on your ear with a hook, combining with the custom ear mold within.  These hearing aids are capable of producing lots of power and amplification, deeming them viable choices for people with minimal hearing loss to severe hearing loss.

In-the-Canal Ear Hearing Aids

In the canal hearing aids, or ITC ear hearing aids, give the user more freedom of fashion constraints and places the whole hearing aid in the ear canal, making it a completely in the ear hearing aid.  They are also custom made, but are built to be concealed in the canal making them not the best choice for children.  Ear wax and/or draining fluid can affect the performance of these ear hearing aids, therefore a strict cleaning regimen must be followed.

Completely-in-Canal Ear Hearing Aid

Similar to ITC ear hearing aids, Completely-in-Canal hearing aids, also known as CIC ear hearing aids, are placed inside the ear canal.  The main difference with these ear hearing aids is that the CIC hearing aid is extremely small and is hardly visible to other people.  Because of their size, CIC ear hearing devices are not recommended for young children.  Another factor that may rule this type of hearing aid out is the shape or size of your ear canal shape.

In-the-Ear Hearing Aid

These hearing aids are placed in the ear of the wearer. They are often used by those who suffer moderate hearing loss. Some people who have extremely small ears may not find these types of hearing aids comfortable or even feasible.  In the ear hearing aids are not for growing children, as the mold will have to be replaced as their ears get larger.

Body-Worn Hearing Aids

Body hearing aids are for those that are either opposed to the use of standard ear hearing aids or need an intense hearing amplifier.  The box is worn by the user either in a pocket or attached by the waist.  It contains all of the mechanical components and a larger, more powerful battery.  An earpiece is worn that is attached to the hardware by a wire, giving sound amplification directly to the ear.  Body hearing aids let you retain an open ear canal, yet are quite visible.

Depending on their hearing loss, some people may need to utilize two different types of hearing aids at the same time, to amplify sound and to filter out noise. It depends on the severity of their hearing loss as well as their environment. If you are considering using a hearing aid, speak to an audiologist to find out which type of hearing aid is best suited to your needs.