Technology is growing at such an unimaginable rate. Imagine for a moment what your life was like fifteen years ago – did you own an iPhone, or did you have a Twitter account? The medium of the Internet is one that allows such fast-paced and user-driven communication that it is no surprise that the world has grown because of it. The fantastic thing with this growth is that it covers almost all the fields of science. For example, the science of hearing aid technology has grown in spades over the last few decades. It has helped millions of people all over the world struggling with hearing loss.
There are vast different kinds of hearing aids, or personal sound amplifiers, which exist in the market today. It is important to note that each of these aids is designed with a specific purpose in mind and that one should consult their doctor first before purchasing any of these equipments. In general, the different types of hearing devices range in their size, power and design.
Some of the Hearing Aids:
Behind the Ear – Open Fit
Behind the ear, open fit hearing aids are compact and somewhat hidden to other people. They usually contain a compact outer shell that rests behind the ear having a really thin wire or tube which goes into your ear canal. The wire is what sends sound into your ear canal. On the tip of the wire, there’s a compact silicone dome which fits comfortably inside the ear canal. The dome is properly vented which leads to a lower “barrel” or “hollow” sound effect you can experience with some other aid styles. Because of the venting, the ear does not feel stopped up. On the other hand, the characteristics of the open fit style leads to the greater chance of feedback. Additionally, it permits lower frequency sound impulses to leak from your ear canal which might restrict this style to a moderately severe high-frequency hearing loss.
Behind the Ear – With Ear Mold
In contrast to the open fit behind the ear hearing aid, the BTE with ear mold design doesn’t have the dome fitted into the ear canal. It includes a customized molded ear piece that rests inside the canal. The casing that is located behind the ear is sometimes bigger than the open fit version. But nevertheless, with developments in technology, they’re becoming more compact. BTE aids are generally the most powerful and therefore are ideal for just about any severity of hearing loss and age bracket. This design is great for kids since the ear mold may be swapped out as the child gets bigger. If the bigger overall size isn’t a problem for you this is an excellent choice for almost any person.
Completely in the Canal (CIC)
If a person’s objective is to be discrete the completely in the canal (CIC) style might be an alternative to think about. This particular aid is custom shaped to sit deep within the ear canal, which makes it extremely unnoticeable. A particular benefit over the BTE is decreased wind noise. Because it rests deep inside of your ear it’s naturally protected against wind noise by your ear. It is also simple to use with a phone. It’s quite natural and comfortable when using a phone.
Based on the seriousness of your hearing loss, the tiny overall size might not be an alternative in your case. CIC aids tend to be best for mild to moderate hearing losses in adults. The little overall size demands good fine motor skills to switch batteries and hold the hearing aid. It can also be somewhat limited on options – usually no volume control or directional microphones. If you’re prepared to give up a couple of options for a smaller sized, discrete aid this is an excellent alternative.
In the Canal (ITC)
The in the canal hearing aid is somewhat bigger than the CIC style and may have options that won’t fit inside the CIC aid. So you may enjoy quite a bit of the same benefits. It will fit mostly inside of the ear canal. It is feasible you might have trouble manipulating a few of the options as a consequence of compact overall size. To deal with this problem manufacturers have created remote controls for a few aids. The ITC aids are suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing losses.
In the Ear (ITE)
The in the ear aids are bigger than the CIC and ITC aids. They go into the bowl-shaped section of your outer ear. One benefit of this is the capability to provide a lot more functions including volume control. They are simpler to adjust and place into your ear. Because they’re more of an external fit they will detect more wind noise. They will also be much less discrete and much more noticeable. ITE aids are a choice for individuals with mild to severe hearing losses.