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Types of Hearing Aid Styles

Long-Lasting Solutions For Hearing Loss

Like any life change, adjusting to wearing a hearing aid can feel intimidating. Our audiologists help make the process as streamlined and stress-free as possible. We want to not only fit patients with the right devices, but also educate them on the different options prior to choosing to ensure long-term success. With the right choice, your devices will improve everyday communication and enable you to continue enjoying the things that you love.

Finding Your Best-Fit Hearing Aid

Most manufacturers now only make digital hearing aids, which allow better sound quality and improved clarity. Digital devices can be finely tuned to all degrees of hearing loss, and they can help to reduce surrounding background noise for better speech comprehension in demanding listening environments. There are a variety of features to consider for your digital hearing aid:

These microphones are designed to help detect sound from all directions and reduce background and other surrounding extraneous noises. Directional microphones are not available on completely-in-the-canal devices, but come standard in all other styles.

A telecoil, which is the most common telephone option, is designed to detect the signal from your telephone without also detecting surrounding noise. This feature is only available in larger custom aids as well as most behind-the-ear devices.

Many newer hearing aids can detect and receive sound from Bluetooth devices, such as cell phones, televisions and other devices. Wearers use an interface to detect the signal from a Bluetooth device and transmit it directly to the device(s). Bluetooth compatibility is only available in larger custom varieties as well as most behind-the-ear devices.

Choosing Your Hearing Aid Style

Hearing aids are available in various style options, each with its own advantages and limitations. Selecting a style that is right for you depends on several factors, and your audiologist will discuss the options with you to help you decide which is best for your needs.

The smallest custom aids that fit into the ear canal.

  • Mild to moderate hearing loss.
  • Less visible than in-the-canal aids
  • Cosmetically appealing
  • Smaller batteries
  • Good dexterity required
  • No directional microphones
  • No telephone and Bluetooth compatibility available

Small custom aids that fit into the ear canal and fill part of the bowl-shaped part of the ear.

  • Mild to moderate hearing losses
  • Smaller batteries (shorter battery life)
  • Good dexterity required
  • No telephone and Bluetooth compatibility available

The largest custom aid available that fills most of the bowl-shaped part of the ear. A plastic shell houses all of the electronic parts of the device.

  • Mild to severe hearing losses
  • Larger batteries
  • Great for those with poor dexterity
  • Telephone and wireless capability available

A behind-the-ear style aid with most of the electronics housed in a casing behind the ear. These devices are attached to and held into the ear by a receiver (loudspeaker) and thin tubing.

  • Mild to severe hearing loss
  • Cosmetically appealing
  • Can have larger batteries
  • Water resistance available
  • Telephone and Bluetooth compatibility

Less visible than the standard BTE style aid. The electronics are also housed in a casing that sits behind the top of the ear but are held into the ear by thin tubing with a soft tip. These aids keep the ear canal open and avoid the occlusion or “plugged up” feeling that users sometimes notice. These are appropriate for users with normal to near-normal hearing in the low-frequency range.

  • Mild to severe high-frequency hearing loss
  • Best durability
  • Cosmetically appealing
  • Can have larger batteries
  • Water resistance available
  • Telephone and Bluetooth compatibility

The most versatile aids due to their size. The electronics are housed in a casing behind the top of the ear and are held into the ear by a custom-made earpiece.

  • Mild to profound hearing loss
  • Best durability as the components are placed outside of the ear
  • Larger batteries (longer battery life)
  • Water resistance available
  • Telephone and Bluetooth compatibility

Your Hearing Aid Fitting And Beyond

Your hearing aid selection and fitting are just the beginning. We want to find a hearing solution that lasts. Our audiologists understand the complex feelings and questions that you may associate with hearing loss. We also understand that everyone’s experience will be unique—no two people will be affected in the same way, face the same challenges or will have to make the same decisions on how to manage their hearing loss. If you are having trouble adjusting to your hearing aids, talk to your audiologist about your options.