How to Choose the Right Hearing Aid
Sometimes it seems there are as many different types of hearing aids on the market as there are types of people. When you’re faced with hearing loss due to injury, illness or age, you know you want the best device to help you function like normal.
Need help choosing the right hearing aid to help you function like you used to, or even better? Let’s take a look at the different kinds of hearing aid out there, how they work, the features they offer. Most importantly, we want you to know how to choose the right hearing aid for you.
How Hearing Aids Function
It might surprise you to discover that hearing aids function in much the same way as any microphone and speaker. They amplify sounds from out in the environment, carry them into your ear, and amplify them, or make them louder. Modern hearing aids use digital technology. However, there are a few analog ones left, and all are powered by hearing aid batteries.
How to Choose the Right Hearing Aid
To choose the right hearing aid you need to settle on the style you want. CIC, or completely in canal aids, are molded to fit inside your ear. In fact, they’re the best from mild to moderate loss and is the most invisible.
ITC, or in canal aids, are also molded and fit partially in the ear. Again, it’s good for mild to moderate loss and can include additional features. The only tradeoff is that it’s slightly more visible.
ITE, or in the ear aids, can be shaped to fit over your outer ear (a full shell). They’re also able to cover just the lower half (a half-shell), too. These are good for even the most severe types of hearing loss. However, they might pick up wind noise and are prone to being clogged by earwax.
BTE, or behind the ear aids, hook around your ear and rest behind it, with a tube that connects to a molded earpiece. These are the largest aids, though newer kinds are very streamlined, and are often capable of the highest amplification but are also prone to a lot of wind noise.
Finally, RIC or Receiver in canal aids, use wires instead of tubing. Besides that, they’re similar to the BTW and are more susceptible to earwax clogs.
Extra Features
There is a broad range of extra features available in modern hearing aids, and you’ll want to choose one that matches your needs. These include directional microphones, noise reduction, telecoil technology, wi-fi technology, direct audio, synchronization, and more.
If you’re looking for the best available hearing amplifiers with the most modern technology at an affordable price, Otofonix can help. Read a bit about us, and check out our products today.
Looking for a hearing clinic near you? Visit our audiologist directory HERE
