What Style of Hearing Aid I Should Wear?

Choosing the right style of hearing aid can transform your auditory experience and enhance your day-to-day life. With so many options out there, however, it can be tricky to choose the perfect style. Fortunately, your hearing instrument specialist will be able to offer bespoke advice and help you to find a hearing device that fits your needs. To get a head-start, take a look at these popular options now:

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids

As the name suggests, BTE hearing aids sit partially behind your ear in order to capture the sounds around you. A clear plastic tube then carries the amplified sound into an earmold, which sits inside your ear canal.

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are the most popular type of hearing device and they’re worn by millions of people worldwide. As they’re suitable for virtually all types of hearing loss, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to wear this type of hearing device to enhance your hearing function.

As they’re a little bigger than some alternative styles, they’re easy to adjust and able to house a larger battery, which means you won’t need to change your batteries so frequently. What’s more – a slightly bigger hearing aid allows room for more controls and features. From tinnitus masking to Bluetooth connectivity, you’ll find behind the ear devices with a range of advanced features and impressive functionality.

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

ITE hearing aids are designed to sit it in the ear! These typically come in two styles: full shell, which takes up the entire outer portion of your ear, or half shell, which sits in the lower half of your outer ear.

Although ITE hearing devices are the largest custom hearing aids, they are fairly discreet. Choosing clear or flesh-colored styles means its unlikely people will notice that you’re wearing hearing aids at all.

The earmold that sits in your ear is custom-made, which guarantees a great fit and enhanced comfort. However, the size of an in the ear hearing aid means it’s still large enough to feature manual controls. If you want to be able to adjust the settings on the device itself, an in-the-ear hearing device can be a great option.

ITE hearing aids are most suited for people with mild-to-severe hearing loss and, again, you’ll find that these styles come with a range of features. Some feature multiple directional microphones to deliver better hearing in noisy environments, as well as the ability to stream phone calls, music and movies from other devices.

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

In-the-canal hearing devices are another custom-made option that is more discreet than in the ear styles, so they are ideal for anyone who is feeling self-conscious. The majority of the device sits within the ear canal itself, which just a small portion of the outer shell visible.

Due to their small size, ITC hearing aids are only able to operate with small batteries. However, if you don’t want to have to change your hearing aid batteries regularly, you can always select a rechargeable model. This allows you to recharge your hearing aids whenever you need to, without having to replace disposable batteries regularly.

ITC hearing devices sometimes feature manual controls, although this varies from model to model, depending on the size and features. Generally suitable for mild-to-moderate or mildly severe hearing loss, they’re a great option if you want to combine enhanced comfort, discreet wear and advanced functionality.

Finding the Best Hearing Aid

Finding the best hearing aid for you depends on several factors, such as the severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle and even your dexterity. Larger hearing devices can be easier to manage or adjust if you have issues with dexterity, so it’s important to take this into account.

Of course, the most effective way to find the perfect hearing aid is to consult a professional. A hearing instrument specialist will be able to show you the various styles available and help you to determine which one is right for you. This specialist input ensures you benefit from a hearing device that’s perfectly suited to your need and allows you to obtain custom instructions when it comes to adjusting the settings, cleaning your hearing aids and keeping the device well-maintained.

To learn more or to arrange a consultation with a hearing instrument specialist, call Hearing Well Matters now at (647) 247-2704.