Benefits of the Different Types of Hearing Aids

The best in hearing aid technology is definitely not one-size-fits-all. In fact, hearing aids come in different types, and the different types of hearing aids are made to benefit patients according to their hearing loss and lifestyle needs.

Different Types of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are grouped according to how they are placed in or around the ear. Common types are:

• Completely-in-the-canal or CIC Hearing Aids
• In-the-Canal or ITC Hearing Aids
• In-the-Ear or ITE Hearing Aids
• Receiver-in-the-Ear or RITE Hearing Aids
• Behind-the-Ear or BTE Hearing Aids

Hearing Loss Considerations

All modern hearing aids provide superior sound and more options than ever before to control and customize the settings to ensure optimal hearing, but different type of hearing aids may work better for certain degrees of hearing loss. For example, BTE hearing aids work with the widest range of hearing loss from mild to profound. Your hearing care professional will determine what type and what degree of hearing loss you have and create a list of the hearing aids that will work best.

Lifestyle Considerations

Your hearing care professional will also talk in depth about your lifestyle needs to help narrow down the list of hearing aid options. For example, are you greatly concerned about keeping your hearing loss discreet? CIC and ITC hearing aids are the smallest and fit in the ear canal. Do you have any concerns about care and maintenance? The smallest devices, such as CIC or ITC hearing aids, can make handling difficult if you have dexterity issues, whereas, ITE and BTE hearing aids can be easier to care for due to their larger size. Finally, your hearing care professional will want to know about your occupation, hobbies and activities. These lifestyle factors taken together are important to ensuring you make the right choice.

Having so many different types of hearing aids seems overwhelming, but your hearing care professional will be with you every step of the way from diagnosis to selection to the fitting. Even after you are fitted with your new hearing aids, your hearing care professional will continue to be your partner in ensuring you can hear your best.