If you suspect you have hearing loss and have scheduled an appointment with an audiologist, you may be wondering what type of hearing aid you may be fit with that will help you hear better at Utility Brewing Company during the Ruston Farmers Market.
According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, “There are various hearing aids, and their selection is not a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. Selection is influenced by factors that include audiometric deficit (laterality, frequency, and degree of loss), cosmesis, and the patient’s needs, lifestyle, and priorities.”
Below we review the different types of hearing aids so you’re familiar with them when you consult with your audiologist.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
BTE hearing aids are perhaps the most versatile, as they can treat mild to profound hearing loss. They are also commonly used for children, as the earmold and tubing can easily be replaced as they grow.
Some advantages of BTE hearing aids are that they often offer wireless connectivity to other devices and other advanced features, they are less susceptible to damage from moisture and earwax and they are highly versatile.
Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE) Hearing Aids
RITE hearing aids, sometimes also called receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids, are similar to BTEs, except instead of sound originating behind the ear and being channeled through the tubing and earmold into the ear, the receiver, as the name suggests, delivers sound directly to the ear. Wiring, rather than tubing, connects the main part of the hearing aid to the receiver.
Advantages of RITE/RIC include many models offering above-average sound quality, rechargeable batteries, wireless connectivity and artificial intelligence.
In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
ITE hearing aids, also known as low-profile hearing aids, sit in the bowl of the ear and either fill half the bowl (half-shell) or the whole bowl (full-shell). ITEs tend to be operated with manual buttons on the devices rather than with an app like many BTEs and RITEs.
Some advantages of ITEs are that they are large, which is better for people with poor dexterity, and they usually offer directional microphones.
In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids
ITCs are similar to ITEs except, they don’t fill the ear bowl as much and are located more in the ear canal.
These devices are more discreet than ITEs and are usually operated manually. They also offer directional microphones.
Completely-in-Canal (CIC) and Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) Hearing Aids
CICs and IICs are very similar; the difference lies in the fact that IICs fit even deeper in the ear canal than CICs. They don’t usually have any buttons because they’d be too hard to reach. Because of their small size, they’re suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Both devices are virtually invisible, and they have good sound quality because of how they fit within the ear. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Advanced Audiology & Hearing Aids today.
