Styles of Hearing Aids

There is a range of different styles of hearing aids suitable for your requirements.

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• Behind the ear (BTE)
• Behind The Ear hearing aids are the most common type of hearing instrument, mainly because it is the type that the NHS provides. It consists of the hearing aid part which as the name suggests, goes behind the ear, a mould which goes in the ear and a piece of tubing that connects these two pieces. The advantages of BTE aids are that they can be more powerful than smaller In The Ear (ITE) models. They are also easier to clean and look after as the mould can be detached from the hearing aid and washed. The disadvantages are that they can be cosmetically unacceptable for some and uncomfortable for others, particularly those who wear spectacles. They can also sometimes be prone to falling off the top of the ear if the wearer is quite active.

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• Open ear
• Designed for people who have high frequency hearing loss, open ear technology consists again of a hearing instrument that goes behind the ear and an ultra thin tube, which sends the sound into the users canal. At the end of the tube is a small rubber dome, which is available in different sizes and is interchangeable according to the individuals hearing loss. The advantages of open ear aids are firstly that they can be very small and barely noticeable and secondly they are extremely comfortable to wear. The design of Open Ear hearing aids is such that the clients ear is left unblocked, therefore relieving them of the sensation of occlusion, which is where the user hears their own voice unnaturally, as if their head was in a barrel.

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• Reciever in the ear (RITE)
• Evolving from the breakthrough of Open Ear fittings, RITE took the idea and made it even better. The main difference with Receiver In the Ear Technology is that the receiver, which sends the sound into the ear, is no longer on the piece behind the ear, but is on the other end of the tube inside the canal. The effects of this are improved sound performance, less risk of feedback and a greater fitting range. RITE instruments are again very discreet and extremely comfortable to wear.

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• Invisible Open Technology
• A brand new concept in hearing aids from GN Resound, Invisible Open Technology embraces the advancements of Open Ear and Rite instruments but presents them in a different way. With The Be by Resound there is nothing going over the ear. The main part of the aid sits in the canal and the receiver sits at the end of a micro thin tube, practically invisible in the curve of your ear. The most immediate and obvious advantage is that you cant see it, which for those among us who dont want to advertise their hearing impairment is a huge plus point. Another big advantage is that because the instrument sits so neatly in the ear it is very resistant to wind noise, which makes it ideal for those who like outdoor activities such as walking or golf.

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• In The Ear (ITE)
• In the ear hearing aids are custom made to the shape of the individuals ear. The hearing aid sits neatly in the ear and is available in a range of different sizes, Full Shell, Half Shell, Canal and Mini Canal. The general rule of thumb with in the ear instruments is the smaller the instrument, the less powerful it is, making the Full Shell the most powerful and the Mini Canal the least. They are not suitable for some of the more severe and profound hearing losses due to the close proximity of the microphone and receiver (which if turned too loud will result in feedback). The main advantage of ITE instruments is comfort, convenience and cosmetics. Wearers of spectacles in particular find them far more practical than BTE models. The disadvantage is mainly that they require slightly more maintenance than BTE models and must be cleaned regularly.

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• Completely in the Canal (CIC)
• The most invisible of hearing instruments, CICs sit deep in the ear canal leaving the hearing aid unnoticeable. Completely In the Canal aids maximise the natural resonance of the ear canal, therefore enhancing the high frequencies. Their position means they are less prone to wind noise during outdoor pursuits. Being so small does bring some disadvantages however with limited battery and inadequate room to fit extra facilities such as a telecoil.