A Guide to the Most Common Styles of Hearing Aids

At the moment, there are a lot of people who don’t know about hearing aids, what they can do, and even the fact that there are different types for you to choose from. In this article, we are going to be looking at the most common styles of hearing aids on the market right now, and the benefits of each of these. If you want to know more about this, keep reading. 

Behind the ear (BTE)

Behind the ear hearing aids are probably the most common type that you will see. That is because they sit on the outer ear, so they are visible to anyone who looks in this direction. Even though this is the case, they are a lot slimmer and sleeker in design than they used to be, meaning that they are able to give you a more comfortable fit. Also, this means that they look more aesthetically pleasing as while you still have a piece of tech outside your ear, it doesn’t look as bulky as the older models.

The behind the ear hearing aid has two parts. The microphone is the part that sits on the outer ear, and the receiver is connected by a long, thin tube that is placed inside the ear to help route the sound around you.

In the ear (ITE)

In the ear hearing aids are also a very common choice right now. You might not even notice that someone has this type of hearing aid because you generally can’t see it unless you are looking for it. These hearing aids are so small, that you won’t see them at all unless you know that they are there. This makes the in the ear hearing aid a comfortable and yet discreet option for those people who are looking for comfort and invisibility wrapped up in one piece of tech. You can even choose from a variety of colors, so if you want, you can find a shade that matches your skin tone to give it that extra level of invisibility.

Even though the device is so small, it is still easy to handle. You are not going to have an issue getting this in and out of your ear, making it a good option for those who want to be able to sort this themselves. 

In the canal (ITC)

Just because in the canal hearing aids are one of the smallest varieties on the market, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the same amount of power as the others. You won’t see an in the canal hearing aid so you might not realize just how common they are. These are custom made to fit almost inside the ear canal. Usually, you will only be able to see the battery and the faceplate of this, if you can seem anything at all.

The location of the microphone within the ear helps the preservation of natural acoustics that you pick up from your external ear. This means you will be able to focus on where the sound is coming from better than with other options.

If you want to know more about hearing aids, get in touch with your audiologist today.