When a hearing impairment reduces your ability to communicate, take advantage of the technologically advanced options available to fine-tune the sound waves entering your ear. Work with an audiologist to fit the type of hearing aid most appropriate to your type of impairment, whether it has been part of your life since childhood, caused by an accident or from late-onset hearing loss. Different types of hearing aids utilize technology from digital programming to switching mechanisms, and there are even devices available that allow you to plug directly into televisions and audio players.
Behind the Ear
The electronic mechanism of a behind-the-ear hearing aid, known as a BTE, is housed in a small shell-like casing that fits conveniently behind your outer ear cartilage. The case is affixed to a conductive piece of plastic called an earmold that is fitted to slip into your outer ear canal. BTE hearing aids are suitable for all ages and many levels of impairment, and are especially common for fitting children. As a child grows, the earmold can be detached and refitted to accommodate larger sizes. The controls of a BTE can easily be observed by parents and caregivers, who can help the child, or an elderly person, adjust the volume and frequency responses.
In the Ear
Completely set into the outer part of the ear, and without any part of the device behind the ear or resting on upper-ear cartilage, an in-the-ear hearing aid may appeal to you if you prefer that the device be less visible to others. ITEs, as they are also known, are molded for a comfortable fit and are large enough to be grasped firmly when you remove or insert them. Certain ITE styles have telecoil inside, a type of technology that uses circuitry instead of a microphone and also allows better hearing in areas like churches, schools and public spaces that use induction loop loudspeakers. Children are not often fitted with ITEs, since the device would have to be frequently remolded to fit securely as the child grows.
Canal Aids
Both in-the-canal, or ITC, aids and completely-in-canal aids, called CICs, are small enough to be inserted directly into the ear canal. If you have mild to moderate level hearing impairment, discuss this type of hearing aid with an audiology specialist. Although lack of visibility to other people is attractive, ITCs and CICs cannot be fitted with a telecoil and can only hold tiny batteries. It may take extra practice to insert and remove these hearing aids from your ear canal, due to their very small size. Also because of the size of the devices, neither ITC nor CIC hearing aids are suitable for children with hearing impairment.
