Hearing Aid Styles Pros and Cons
Many different hearing aid styles are available to accommodate various levels of hearing loss and personal preferences regarding visibility and comfort. To help make it easier for our customers to choose a hearing aid, Pure Sound has created a concise guide to hearing aid styles, including their advantages and disadvantages.
Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
Pros: The large size of BTE hearing aids makes it easier for older people to manipulate, especially if they have arthritis or other joint problems in their hands. BTEs also have simple volume controls and a directional microphone to detect where sounds are coming from.
Cons: Behind-the-ear hearing aids are plainly visible since they sit outside the ear and can make it difficult to use a phone while wearing them.
Cons: Behind-the-ear hearing aids are plainly visible since they sit outside the ear and can make it difficult to use a phone while wearing them.
Receiver-in-Canal Hearing Aids
Pros: The amplifier and microphone attached to an RIC hearing aid is connected via wires to a receiver, either custom-molded to the wearer’s ear canal or to an earbud. RICs are also less visible than other hearing aids – except invisible hearing aids – and provide excellent sound quality.
Cons: Like behind-the-ear hearing aids, RICs make it awkward to use a telephone. However, a few manufacturers now offer more expensive, adjustable RIC hearing aids that are compatible with Apple iPhones and Androids. the better hearing aids can automatically connect to the phones.
Cons: Like behind-the-ear hearing aids, RICs make it awkward to use a telephone. However, a few manufacturers now offer more expensive, adjustable RIC hearing aids that are compatible with Apple iPhones and Androids. the better hearing aids can automatically connect to the phones.
In-the-Ear Hearing Aids
Pros: Users can have ITEs customized to fit the shell shape of their outer ears. Simple to place on your ears and easier to use when talking on the phone, ITEs are also equipped with volume control and directional microphone.
Cons: Because the housing of in-the-ear hearing aids sits mostly on the outer part of your ears, they may be too conspicuous and uncomfortable for some people.
Cons: Because the housing of in-the-ear hearing aids sits mostly on the outer part of your ears, they may be too conspicuous and uncomfortable for some people.
In-the-Canal Hearing Aids
Pros: ITCs are custom-made and fit into your ear canal opening. Although ITCs are barely noticeable, they are big enough to accommodate volume control and a directional microphone.
Cons: Because in-the-canal hearing aids sit in the ear canal, they have a tendency to cause feedback and noise distortion.
Cons: Because in-the-canal hearing aids sit in the ear canal, they have a tendency to cause feedback and noise distortion.
Completely in-the-Canal Hearing Aids
Pros: Easy to use and one of the least conspicuous of the different hearing aid styles, CICs fit completely in your ear canal and rely on the outer ear to funnel sounds and enhance the wearer’s ability to locate them.
Cons: Some people may find it difficult to change batteries in CICs because of their small size. Additionally, CICs are prone to feedback similar to in-the-canal hearing aids.
Hearing aid styles also include analog and digital hearing aids. Analog aids amplify noise and speech equally. Some analogs are programmable so the wearer can adjust amplification according to how quiet or how loud an environment is. Digital hearing aids convert sound into digital signals that are exact duplications of sound. Users of digital hearing aids can also adjust settings to adapt to certain levels of hearing loss.
If you are interested in learning more about the different hearing aid styles and prices, please call Pure Sound today at 844-432-7287.
Cons: Some people may find it difficult to change batteries in CICs because of their small size. Additionally, CICs are prone to feedback similar to in-the-canal hearing aids.
Hearing aid styles also include analog and digital hearing aids. Analog aids amplify noise and speech equally. Some analogs are programmable so the wearer can adjust amplification according to how quiet or how loud an environment is. Digital hearing aids convert sound into digital signals that are exact duplications of sound. Users of digital hearing aids can also adjust settings to adapt to certain levels of hearing loss.
If you are interested in learning more about the different hearing aid styles and prices, please call Pure Sound today at 844-432-7287.