 |
Types of Hearing Aids
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
 |
| Behind-The-Ear |
These have an ear mold which sits inside your ear. The hearing aid rests behind your ear and a plastic tube connects it to the ear mold. This is the most common type of hearing aid and at one time was the only type you could buy. However, with newer technologies making hearing aid circuitry so small, the bulkiness of BTE hearing aids is often no longer needed - In-The-Ear (ITE) and In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids are now the most popular.
|
In-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC) aids
 |
 |
| In-The-Ear |
In-The-Canal |
In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids fit completely in the outer ear and are used for mild to severe hearing loss. The case, which holds the components, is made of hard plastic. ITE aids can accommodate added technical mechanisms such as a telecoil, a small magnetic coil contained in the hearing aid that improves sound transmission during telephone calls.
ITE and ITC types of hearing aids are the only ones we carry. They offer a discrete fit without being so small that they cannot be easily adjusted.
|
Completely In The Canal (CIC)
 |
Completely
in-Canal |
A Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aid is largely concealed in the ear canal and is used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss. Because of their small size, canal aids may be difficult for the user to adjust and remove, and may not be able to hold additional devices, such as a telecoil. Canal aids can also be easily damaged by earwax and ear drainage. They are not typically recommended for children.
Although the advantage of the CIC aid style is the small size, the disadvantages of higher cost, and extreme difficulty in adjusting are often not worth the effort.
|
|
 |
|
