The Ultimate Breakdown of Hearing Aid Styles
If you need a hearing aid, there are several options that you can choose from. Each style of hearing aids has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, different types of hearing loss can require different styles of hearing aids. This article will give you all the essential information that you need to know about the different types of available hearing aids.
Completely in the Canal Hearing Aids (CIC Devices)
If you're looking for a hearing aid that no one will notice, this is the ideal pick because the entire hearing aid will fit inside of your ear canal, which ensures that it's entirely hidden. Furthermore, this product is not likely to pick up wind noise, which ensures that you'll have no trouble hearing outdoors. In addition, these used to be the smallest hearing aids available until invisible in canal devices were created. These hearing aids are best for people who suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss, but they can sometimes be used for people who suffer from more severe or even profound loss of hearing.
Also, these devices are great for improving your hearing when you're talking on the phone and determining the location of where a sound is coming from. Additionally, there are wireless options for completely in the canal devices. However, the wireless devices tend to be a bit larger than other products, which can make them somewhat less comfortable to wear.
However, there are a few disadvantages to these products. The sound can sometimes be muffled by earwax, which means that they require frequent cleaning.
Behind the Ear Hearing Aids (BTE Devices)
Behind the ear devices can be somewhat large and bulky, and they can be effective for people who suffer from almost any level of hearing loss. While some of these devices are quite bulky, there are newer versions of this design that tend to be a bit less bulky than the older models. However, there are some disadvantages, such as the fact that they tend to pick up wind noise that can be distracting.
These devices can have a bowl-shaped exterior that provides an exceptional level of amplification. In addition, these devices often come with volume control, which can make it easy to adjust the volume on the device based on the environment that one is in.
In the Ear Devices (ITE Devices)
If you choose an in the ear device, it will be placed directly in your ear, which means that it's able to fill nearly the entire hollow region of your ear. This can help to ensure that it's ideal for people who suffer from mild to severe hearing loss. In addition, these devices tend to be quite comfortable, and that's due to their relatively small size compared to many other hearing aids.
Not only that, but it's possible to get them molded specifically to your ear. This can help to ensure that these products are as comfortable as possible. Furthermore, many of these products come with wireless features, such as the ability to adjust the volume wirelessly and choose from a variety of noise control options wirelessly.
Mini CIC Hearing Aids
Mini CIC hearing aids are completely in the ear devices, but they are different from their larger counterparts due to their exceptionally small size. As a result, these devices tend to be significantly more comfortable than most other completely in the ear canal devices. They also have the same overall set of advantages and disadvantages as other devices that are designed to remain completely within the ear canal, and they're designed for people who have mild to moderate hearing loss.
There's an even smaller type of mini CIC, which is known as an invisible in canal device. These devices are known to be exceptionally discreet, and other people can’t see them while you're wearing the devices. In some cases, these devices can be a little bit on the expensive side compared to many other types of hearing aids, especially if they come with a lot of advanced features.
In the Canal (ITC Devices)
These devices are partially inside of the ear canal as opposed to being completely within it. As a result, they do have some of the advantages of completely in the canal devices, such as reduced wind noise. This device is also best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss but can be beneficial for those suffering from all levels of hearing loss. In fact, they're considered one of the best types of hearing aids for people who are dealing with profound hearing loss.
In addition, these devices are great for individuals who have problems with dexterity as well as those who are also suffering from poor vision. Additionally, the fact that they have two microphones means that you'll be able to understand speech much better than with many other hearing aids.
These devices also tend to be somewhat less easily visible than some other hearing aids, but they are much less discreet than devices that remain completely in the ear canal. These devices do have some of the features that completely in the canal devices often lack, but the fact that they're partially within the ear canal can make them challenging to adjust in some cases. They do have the disadvantage of being prone to getting clogged by earwax, which means that they must be cleaned frequently.
This type of hearing aid is designed to be relatively small and less noticeable in its appearance compared to many other types of devices, and the speaker and receiver of these devices are located inside of the ear. The two pieces of these devices are connected by a wire as opposed to tubing. Unfortunately, one drawback of these devices is that they can be clogged by earwax at times, which can make them somewhat less reliable than certain other types of products. In addition, moisture can be problematic when it comes to these devices.
In general, these hearing aids are just as reasonably priced as other types of hearing aids on the market, which means that there are devices available for almost any budget. Luckily, if your hearing aid doesn't last, this type of device is exceptionally easy to replace since there are many reasonably priced versions of this type of hearing aid on the market.
Sometimes, these devices are called receiver in the ear devices. In general, these devices tend to be resistant to feedback sound, which means that it's easier to clearly hear sounds in the environment for most users. In addition, they are relatively small and discreet, which makes them preferable for individuals who want a device that's not easily visible.
Furthermore, there are many different colors of the devices that you can choose from, which leads to a unique appearance. They also are designed to amplify high-pitched noises, which helps to ensure that you'll be able to hear everything that's going on in the environment. The cost of these products tends to be similar to the cost of other kinds of hearing aid devices, but it varies depending on the manufacturer and the type and nature of extra features that the device offers.
A version of behind the ear devices, open fit hearing aids are best for people who have mild to moderate hearing loss. A thin tube connects the outer and inner part of the device. If you're looking for a device that's able to pick up sounds that have a low frequency, you're likely to find it with this type of device.
These devices are considered to be a form of behind the ear device, which means that they come with many of the same advantages and disadvantages of these products. However, the batteries for these devices tend to be quite small, which means that they often need to be replaced. This can create an expense, which is not likely to be covered by a warranty. In addition, the small size means that it generally is not possible to make adjustments manually.
Summary
To choose the right device, it's important to consider your needs as well as your budget. While these are the main categories of devices that you can choose from, there are a variety of other types of products that are available. In addition, it's important to consider the type of hearing loss that you must determine what type of hearing aid that's best for you.
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