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The in-the-ear hearing aid is possibly the first thing one
imagines while thinking about hearing aids. ITE's are often the
most inexpensive style of hearing aid available, but not always
the most practical. Some feel like the in-the-ear style of
hearing aid sounds less natural than other available styles, as
much of the natural sound is blocked by the hearing aid unit. The ITE best suits a Mild to Severe loss. |
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Another style of the ITE, the main advantage of the
ITC is
simply it's cosmetic improvement. It is less visible at a
glance, but also not as powerful or technologically capable as
its larger archetype. The ITC best suits a Mild to Moderate loss. |
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An even smaller ITE hearing aid, the very small CIC sits
completely in the ear canal. It's main attraction, the idea of
wearing a hearing aid that cannot be seen by the casual eye,
poses a good argument for being the "best" hearing aid
available. This, however, is not necessarily true. Similarly to
the ITC, the CIC has many limitations as far as what hearing
loss it is suitable for, and what kinds of technologies can fit
in the very small device. The CIC best suits a Mild to Moderate loss. |
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The second type of hearing aid style, the BTE,
offers many improvements over the ITE, but also comes with it's
own downfalls. Primarily, because of it's location, the BTE has
the capability to be a more powerful hearing aid. Feedback is
less likely, and wax damage rarely a concern. Many styles of BTE
are worn with an "earmold" for positioning and acoustic reasons.
Some BTEs can also require more frequent maintenance, like
standard tube or filter changes. The BTE best suits a Mild to Profound loss. |
With current and emerging technology, behind-the-ear
hearing aids are becoming the more popular style today. Aside from cosmetic improvements,
(picture, right) other advancements over older BTE's are offering some
benefits unavailable from any other hearing aid style. One thing people
notice in newer BTE's is a more open and comfortable feeling inside the
ear, and also a more natural and realistic sound. This is because,
unlike other styles, natural sound is not blocked from the inner ear,
and both the hearing aid's amplified sound and natural sound work
together to create a more dynamic hearing experience. |
Wireless Binaural Systems
Using recent developments in technology, a pair of hearing aids can wirelessly operate together as a single integrated hearing system. This enables both devices to continuously communicate with each other so that vital information is shared to give a more natural and realistic stereo sound.
Bluetooth Capabilities
With the technology used by binaural systems, hearing aids can also come with the capability to stream stereo sound from cell phones, MP3 players, GPS systems, and other electronics via Bluetooth right through your hearing aids, creating the world's smallest cordless headset, customized for your hearing needs.
Feedback Management & Noise Reduction
Many new hearing aid models are coming equipped with more powerful feedback management than seen before. Some hearing aids can now automatically adjust the volume and settings and amplification to provide easier listening in a wide variety of environments. Another achievement, "active listening," makes adjustments during conversation by determining if you're speaking or if you're listening, and suppressing "nuisance sounds" that can occur in each situation.
