Hearing Aid Styles
Today's hearing aids feature noise reduction, feedback suppression, speech enhancement, and ear-to-ear communication. If you suffer from tinnitus, ask about brands that offer tinnitus management programs. Hearing aids also feature connectivity programs that use Bluetooth technology to connect your hearing aids to your cell phone for ease of use and listening.
There are a basically two styles of hearing aids: those that fit behind the ear and those that fit directly into the ear canal.
Behind-the-ear (BTE/RIC)
This style can be can be a good choice with some being extremely small and the thin tube is almost invisible. They can fit larger batteries for longer usage life. They can also accomodate larger amplifiers for more severe hearing losses. In many cases they can be fitted the same day as your hearing evaluation. These devices canbe a good option if you have dexterity issues.
In-the-ear (custom)
These types of hearing aids are contained in a case that fit partly or completely into the ear canal. They can be the smallest of the hearing aid styles and offer cosmetic and listening advantages.
How do I know which is the best style of hearing aid for me?
A hearing aid style choice is based on the following factors:
- Your degree and type of hearing loss
- The shape of your ear
- Any special features you require
- Your manual dexterity
- Your cosmetic preferences
- Your listening needs
- Your lifestyle considerations
- Your budget