Top 5 Hearing Aid Styles

There are various factors that might dictate which hearing aid style is the right one for you. From the severity of your hearing loss to your own personal preferences; there are lots of things to consider when making this important choice. And it’s something that should be done in collaboration with your audiologist.

To give you a better idea of the options out there, we’ve picked out the top five hearing aid styles currently available so you can learn a little more about what each of them has to offer. So read on now to find out more about that.

1. In-the-ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

The first and perhaps most common type of hearing aid is the in-the-ear hearing aid. This is one that many people opt for because there’s a range of subtypes that offer different levels of discretion. These days, people tend to prefer small devices that can sit in the outer bowl and that are not very noticeable, and that’s what these hearing aids offer.

And because the hearing aid sits right in the outer bowl, they also offer very strong sound quality, which is always important as well. They do have to be looked after and maintained properly because they can be exposed to more earwax than the kinds of hearing aids that don’t inside the ear. But it’s certainly easy to see why they’re so popular.

2. Behind-the-ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

There’s a couple of different behind-the-ear hearing aids to choose between. It mainly comes down to where the receiver sits when the hearing aid is in use. These devices are the most likely to come with extra features, such as wireless connectivity, rechargeable batteries and more advanced technologies.

You can have the receiver in ear, or you can use a device that has an earmold. Choosing between these two often comes down to which of them offers the level of discretion that the individual wants. Some people don’t mind the bigger and more obvious devices and others prefer to have them hidden away and out of sight.

3. In-the-canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

In the canal hearing aids are a little on the larger side, but they can sit fully in the ear with no need for any extra wires or components behind the ear. For some people, that’s preferable. And they’re still big enough to be adjusted with ease, so people with dexterity issues shouldn’t have any trouble using the controls when they need to.

These hearing aids tend to have a long battery life as well, and they’re discreet enough for many people. Like other devices that sit in the ear, they can be susceptible to moisture and earwax, but that’s something that can be avoided with the proper maintenance steps.

4. Invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids

For the most discreet hearing aid possible, you’ll probably want to take a look at IIC hearing aids. These devices sit much deeper in the ear canal than the devices we’ve discussed above. And it’s this that makes them pretty much invisible to the naked eye. Unless you’re looking for it, you probably won’t notice it, and that’s never a bad thing.

Because they’re so deep in the ear, they also offer a very good quality of sound as well, and that’s obviously an important factor for lots of people. The way they fit in the ear is also very comfortable because of the small size, but they are very small so aren’t always ideal for people with dexterity issues.

5. Low profile hearing aids

Low profile hearing aids are a type of in the ear hearing aid, but they’re a little less discreet because of their size. They are noticeable, but all of the necessary components sit inside the ear with no tubing or wires to the exterior.

Because they’re a little bigger than other ITE hearing aids, they’re also a lot easier to adjust and change the settings for. That makes them better for some older people and people with dexterity challenges. They definitely have their benefits.

If you want to find out more about the different hearing aid styles out there and which of them might be best for you, be sure to contact us here at Albuquerque Hearing and Balance when you’re ready to. We’ll be happy to discuss the options with you and provide any other hearing-related services you might be looking for. Simply call us at (505) 750-9569.