What Are the Main Devices to Help With Hearing Loss?

In many ways, we’re incredibly lucky to live in the time that we do. People with hearing loss can now get access to a host of powerful devices to improve their condition, enabling them to detect a broader array of sounds than before. 

If you or somebody you know has hearing loss, though, figuring out which hearing aid to get can be a challenge. While you understand the basic concept – to amplify incoming sounds – there are so many options out there that it can make your head spin. 

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the main types of hearing aids available on the market today. By the end, you should have a much better understanding of how each might be able to benefit you. 

Behind the ear (BTE)

If you go searching for hearing aids on the internet, you’ll inevitably bump into the abbreviation BTE. 

This type of assistive hearing device was the most common in the past, providing plenty of internal capacity for all the necessary components. Smaller devices have since superseded it, but it remains a popular choice in certain circumstances. 

The main benefits of BTE devices are as following: 

• More powerful components for those with severe or profound hearing loss
• Longer battery life
• More space for features

While their large size means that they are not as discreet, BTE makes up for this negative in both power and utility. What’s more, you can get them in stylish colors, transforming them from a mere medical prosthetic into a fashion accessory. 

In the ear (ITE)

ITE hearing aids are the next step in the evolution of smaller assistive hearing devices. These models get rid of the loop around the back of the ear and put all the hardware in a single unit in the ear canal. 

ITE devices are more discreet. Usually, all you can see is the earmold at the opening of the ear. There are no other external components. The hearing aid fits like a wireless earphone, snugly fitting the contours of the outer ear. 

These devices tend to have fewer style options than BTE, which makes sense. They may also have fewer features, depending on which model you select. Although miniaturization technology is slowly making ITEs more capable. 

In the canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids are smaller than ITEs, but still visible from the outside. They feature an earmold and fit into the lower third of the ear opening.

They are not as discreet as the smaller versions of hearing aids we discuss below, but they still come packed with features. Typically, they offer feedback protection, connectivity options and dual microphones as standard. Some advanced models offer additional features, like auto setting adjust and white noise generation. 

They’re not perfect, though. As with other models, you may have to occasionally re-shell the mold as the shape of the surrounding cartilage changes. 

Completely in canal (CIC)

CIC devices are even smaller than ITC devices and fit entirely within the ear canal. Usually, you can’t remove or insert them by hand and must use a special tool. Because of their size, these hearing aids do not offer as many features as their larger counterparts. Even so, modern devices still provide a plethora of features designed to improve the user experience. 

In some ways, the smaller size of these devices actually makes them better. CIC devices fit into the ear canal with no earmold, so there is no significant effect on the natural acoustics of the ears. The outer ear continues to funnel sounds to the inner ear without any prosthetics in the way. 

Most CIC devices have wireless or telecoil connectivity. They don’t, however, typically have more than one microphone, meaning that you can’t get simulated directional sound. If you struggle to hear individual voices in a crowded room, you may need to opt for a different form factor. 

Other hearing aid styles

There are a variety of other hearing aid styles you may encounter in your research, including receiver in canal, invisible in canal, mini canal and microphone in helix. All of these are essentially variations of the above. They all transmit sound to the ear via air. Bone-anchored hearing aids, however, are fundamentally different, because they send audio to the wearer by creating vibrations in the skull.

Would you like to learn more about the different styles of hearing aids, and which might be best for you? If so, please get in touch with our team here at Hearing Well Matters. Please call (647) 247-2704 to learn more.