Hearing aids come in lots of shapes and sizes, and together with your audiologist, you will be able to find the design that best benefits you.
When looking at styles, there are two main categories of hearing aid. Those which go behind the ear, and those whose parts fit solely within the ear. Within each of those categories, there are many shapes and sizes! Here’s a closer look
Behind the ear devices
Standard/High powered Behind the Ear (BTE)
A standard behind the ear device has all its mechanical parts in the body of the hearing aid which sits over the ear. It then has a plastic tube which is connected to a dome or a mould that delivers the sound into the ear canal. If the tubing is thin with a small dome fitting, then it is what we call an open fit behind the ear device. Many BTE devices are small and discreet behind the ear. A high powered BTE has the same physical characteristics but is typically slightly larger type with a thick tube and custom mould.
Some of the benefits of a standard BTE device are;
- Can fit mild to severe/profound hearing losses (*severe/profound hearing losses may require a high powered BTE)
- Come in a range of sizes, including small discreet models
- Come in a range of technology levels
- Can be easier to manage for people with poor dexterity
- Some models are rechargeable
Receiver in the Canal (RIC)
A receiver in the canal hearing aid can look very similar to an open fit BTE. It has a small over the ear portion which houses most of the mechanical aspects of the hearing device. Unlike a standard BTE however, a RIC has a wire that runs from the hearing aid body to a small speaker (or receiver) which sits in the ear canal to deliver the sound to the ear.
The benefits of a RIC device;
- Can fit mild to severe/profound hearing losses while maintaining a small discreet size
- Come in a range of technology levels
- Some models are rechargeable
- A range of connectivity options (including direct connections to mobile phones for some models)
In The Ear Devices – custom devices
A custom in the ear device has all its mechanical parts in a shell that is custom made to fit in your ear. There are no parts over the ear with these devices. In the ear devices come in a range of sizes, some which fill the entire ear, right down to those which are practically invisible to the outside world, which is called an Invisible In the Canal (IIC) device.
When it comes to choosing the size of the in the ear device, those which fill all or half of the ear typically have more power. They may also have technical features such as connectivity to mobile devices and more sophisticated background noise reduction than their smaller counterparts.
The benefits of in the ear device are;
- Can fit mild to severe hearing losses (*severe hearing losses may require a full ear sized ITE)
- Come in a range of sizes, including small discreet models
- Come in a range of technology levels
- Can be easier to put in than BTE devices (*larger models typically)
- Some models have a range of connectivity options
Hearing loss levels are only one factor which dictates which style may suit you best. Your hearing goals, manual dexterity and funding options may also factor into making the right decision. Your audiologist will spend time discussing which models best suit all of your needs to ensure that you are choosing the best model for you.