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Hearing Aids Styles
Because everyone has different levels of hearing loss and speech discrimination, people will benefit differently when using amplification. If speech discrimination is good they will respond better to a hearing aid than someone with poor speech discrimination, even if their ability to hear the tones is similar.
All hearing aids work on the same principle.
They also have the same three basic parts:
Microphone: changes acoustic energy to electric energy.
Amplifier: amplifies sound.
Receiver: changes electric energy back into acoustic energy.
There are several styles of hearing aids and your hearing loss will dictate which is the best option for your communication needs. We will briefly review the five most common types:
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid: has an earmold, which attaches the hearing aid to the ear and directs the sound into the ear. The hearing aid is situated behind the pinna.
- Classic in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid: has its components built into an earpiece. The hearing aid is situated in the concha.
- Completely in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid: has its components built into an earpiece. The hearing aid is situated in the ear canal.
- Open Fit hearing aid: is a BTE fit with a slim tube attached to a dome that is placed in the ear canal. It is appropriate for mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss.
- Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aid: is a mini BTE attached to a receiver unit placed in the ear canal. This style can accommodate up to a severe hearing loss.
Based on the audiogram and individual concerns, the audiologist will offer the appropriate options so the patient can make the best choice.
