Hearing devices come in a variety of types and styles designed to suit different needs and tastes. Some of the styles include completely in-the-canal, partly in-the-canal, half shell and full shell. The hearing aids that are completely in the canal are smaller and less noticeable. In-the-canal devices don't go as deeply into the ear, but they are still difficult to see. The half-shell is slightly bigger and easier to handle. The full-shell is larger and more obvious. Other style options are available, depending on what type of hearing aid is needed.
Conventional
The conventional hearing aid comes in most of the styles. Volume is increased with all sound, and major adjustments can be made by the manufacturer or audiologist. Users can make minor adjustments on the volume. According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association website, the technology for the conventional hearing aid is the least expensive of all types, and it can be used for a variety of different hearing loss types.
Programmable Analog
The programmable analog type of hearing aid holds a microchip with preprogrammed settings. The user can make adjustments for a variety of uses, such as normal conversations in a quiet environment, noisy settings or for larger areas that may have echoing sounds. According to the Mayo Clinic website, analog hearing aids are being phased out because they aren't as adaptable to everyday use as digital hearing aids.
Digital
Digital hearing aids are programmed by the audiologist to adapt to sound automatically, making it the most expensive of all types of hearing devices. The digital hearing aid has more than one channel for the user to adjust amplification based on personal needs. It also contains directional microphones to help cut background noise when needed. The digital hearing device signal is typically clearer than the other types of hearing aids.
