A Guide to Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are an incredibly useful piece of technology that can help you regain one of your most important senses. Sadly, most people don’t realize when they have hearing loss because it can start slow. Gradually, you’ll grow accustomed to your hearing loss and you won’t even realize that your ears aren’t quite what they used to be.

In this article, we’ll be discussing a couple of the most common types of hearing aids, showcasing what they’re capable of, how they can be used and if you should invest in them.

ITE hearing aids

Short for in-the-ear hearing aids, these are hearing aids that typically go into the outer ear. They’re usually a little harder to see unless you look directly at your ear, meaning they’re great for people who want a more discreet solution. They’re also fairly easy to adjust thanks to their fairly large size, and they’re often custom-made to fit your ear for the most comfort. They’re suitable for most people and can hold large batteries, making them great for even demanding users.

BTE hearing aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are a little larger than ITE hearing aids. These don’t need to be custom-made and often consist of two parts; a basic unit that houses the components and a tube that goes into your ear. The main unit typically hooks around your ear for a comfortable fit, and the small tube is what carries the amplified sound. These are the most common type of hearing aid available and they often come in a variety of colours to blend in with your skin. Although they’re the largest type of hearing aid, they’re surprisingly light and are suitable for most use cases.

ITC hearing aids

In-the-canal hearing aids are the smallest hearing aids that we’ll be discussing in this article. These are smaller than ITE hearing aids and often fit inside the ear canal. They’re more suitable for people with slight to moderate hearing loss because the small size of the hearing aid means it can’t house a large battery or more features. However, it’s much smaller in size and thus lighter, making it more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. They’re also far more discreet than the other options, making it a good choice for people that want a smaller solution for their hearing loss.

In short, hearing aids are fantastic devices that will help you get along with your life unhindered. If you think that you have hearing damage, make sure you visit a trained audiologist to help you figure out how severe your hearing loss is so that they can pair you with the right type of hearing aids. However, it’s never a bad idea to consider your own options and use this guide as a starting point to pick a suitable hearing aid for your needs. The more you understand, the easier it will be to transition to your hearing aids.