Hearing aids come in a variety of styles, each having its own advantages and limitations. Selecting a style that is right for you depends on a number of factors including: the type and severity of your hearing loss, the size and shape of your ear, your personal and cosmetic preferences and how well you can handle the device. Below are several common styles of hearing aids:
Behind-the-ear
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Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are housed in a curved case that fits snuggly and comfortably over and behind your ear. The hearing aid is attached to your ear by a custom ear mold that is made to the exact shape of your ear. The custom ear mold directs the sound from the hearing aid into your ear and keeps the hearing aid in place. People with a wide range of hearing losses (from mild to profound) can use BTE hearing aids. Because the electronics are housed behind (and not in) the ear, they tend to be the most durable hearing aid style. BTE hearing aids need less repair and have a longer life expectancy. They can be worn comfortably with or without eyeglasses. |
Open ear hearing devices or mini BTE
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Open ear hearing aids are often housed in a miniature case that fits behind your ear. The sound travels through a discrete ultra thin tube that loops over the ear and enters the ear canal. In some cases only a soft rubber dome is placed at the end of the tube into your ear. For those who desire a more secure fitting, a lightweight custom ear mold can be used instead of a dome. Patients who wear open ear devices report that their own voice sounds more natural because the ear is left open and is not occluded. The amount of biological noise (chewing, breathing) the person hears is also reduced. Because the ear is left open, this allows the sounds that the patients can already hear without amplification enter the ear without obstruction leading to a more natural sound quality. Open ear hearing aids are also cosmetically appealing because the aid is small and the thin tubing virtually disappears as it lies so close to the skin. These instruments are appropriate for people with normal to near normal hearing in the low pitches and a mild to moderately severe hearing loss in the high pitches. There are also mini BTE devices available for people with up to a severe amount of hearing loss. We simply modify the custom earmold to be less open so more sound stays in the ear. This option allows most individuals with hearing loss to choose a small, lightweight, cosmetically appealing hearing solution. |
In-the-ear
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In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are custom designed and fit completely into your ear, filling most of the visible portion. All of the components are housed completed in your ear. There are no external wires or tubes and the aids are very lightweight. With proper fit, they are comfortable and secure. ITE hearing aids can be worn by people with mild to moderately-severe hearing losses. |
In-the-canal
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In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are also custom designed. They are smaller in size and fit more deeply into the ear canal than making them less visible than the in-the-ear style. All of the components are housed within the aid. However, because they are smaller size, they can only be used by people who have a more mild to moderate hearing loss. |
Completely-in-the-canal
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Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are custom devices that fit the deepest into the ear canal so they are the least visible. Because of the small size, the wearer must have good dexterity to handle the smaller size of the aid and the batteries. Because they fit so deeply into the ear, there is a greater risk of breakdown due to moisture and ear wax and this style of aid tends to go in for repair more often and has a shorter overall life expectancy than the other styles of hearing aids. However, CIC hearing aids may reduce the problems of wind noise and feedback (whistling) on the telephone. CIC hearing aids can be worn by individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. |
CROS/BICROS hearing aids
A CROS hearing aid is an option for people who have normal hearing in one ear, and very little or no hearing in the other ear. A BICROS hearing aid is an option for people with little or no hearing in one ear and a hearing loss in the other. The hearing aid is worn on the ear with the better hearing and an additional microphone is worn on the poorer ear. This allows the person to pick up sound on the poor ear side and hear it on the better side. The microphone picks up sound from the poor ear side and wirelessly transmits it to the hearing aid on the good side. These systems provide better sound awareness for sounds occurring on the poor ear side.