You have decided to opt for a hearing aid, and that’s the first step towards better hearing health. Well done! However, if you are having questions like “What are the different types of hearing aids?” “Which style would suit my hearing loss best?”, or “Should I go for an analog or digital hearing aid?”, you are in the right place.
Choosing a hearing aid can be overwhelming with innumerable options out there, and you may get confused about which style or type would suit your unique hearing needs. But worry not, because we are here to help you find answers and make informed decisions while picking the right hearing aid type or style.
What Types of Hearing Aid Should I Get?
There are multiple hearing aid styles and types, each having its own advantages and limitations. The type of device that’s right for you depends on multiple factors, including:
- Your hearing loss type (conductive, sensorineural, or mixed) and degree (mild, moderate, severe, or profound)
- Your unique ear anatomy, especially the shape and size of your ear canal
- Any motor skill challenges that you may have, especially while handling small devices (manual dexterity)
- Your lifestyle, personal choices, and cosmetic preferences
- The hearing aid technology and advanced features you want (like Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable devices, speech enhancement in noise, directional microphones, AI features, etc.)
- The level of customisation you need.
What are the Different Hearing Aid Styles?
There are six main hearing aid styles that you can choose from depending on your hearing profile and personal preferences.
- Behind-the-ear (BTE): BTE devices are a popular choice for people with a wide range of hearing loss degrees, from mild to profound. They fit nicely behind the ear, with the body attached to a custom ear mould or thin, clear tubing. BTE hearing aids are sturdy and powerful, while also easy to handle, making them a suitable choice for people of all ages – from children to seniors.
- Receiver-in-the-ear/Receiver-in-canal (RITE/RIC): Also known as mini BTE, the RITE devices are similar to BTE aids, as their body sits behind the ear, but are usually smaller in size, ensuring more discretion. A small tip is placed inside the ear canal, delivering a more natural sound with reduced occlusion effect. RIC hearing aids are also suitable for mild to profound degrees of hearing loss. The RIC and BTE devices are often the best choice for first-time hearing aid wearers.
- In-the-ear (ITE): In ITE aids, all the components are contained inside a shell that fits in the outer ear. ITE hearing aids come in two styles: one style filling the entire bowl-shaped area of the outer ear, commonly known as a full shell, and the other style filling only the lower part of that area, called the half shell. ITE devices are suitable for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss and are larger than tiny CIC or IIC devices, making them easier to handle.
- In-the-canal (ITC): ITC hearing aids are smaller than ITE aids and are placed inside the ear canal, making them less visible. The moulds of ITC devices are usually custom-made based on the shape and size of the user’s ear canal. This style is also suitable for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC): CIC aids are tiny devices that fit partially or completely inside the ear canal. People with cosmetic preferences, particularly those who need to make public appearances, can find these tiny devices beneficial. While the main body of the hearing aid stays hidden, only the thin removal handle sticks out of the ear canal.
- Invisible-in-canal (IIC): These devices lie deep inside the ear canal (in the second bend of the canal), making them practically invisible. These are a perfect solution for people who want discreet hearing aids. However, these tiny devices (both CIC and IIC) may not provide powerful amplification like BTE or RIC aids. Therefore, these are generally suitable for people with a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss.
Please note: The smaller devices often have limited features, as it becomes difficult to accommodate all the latest technologies within a small space. Also, people with dexterity challenges may find it harder to handle tiny devices, especially the batteries of ITC, CIC or IIC hearing aids.
Analog Hearing Aids vs. Digital Hearing Aids: Which is Better?
Based on technology, hearing aids are again categorised into two types: analog and digital.
- Analog Hearing Aids: These are designed to amplify all sound waves equally, making both speech and noise sound louder. There may be presets or microchips in some analog models that help users store multiple program settings used in varying listening environments, such as a noisy place (like a restaurant or marketplace) or a quiet place (like a library). However, the program settings do not change automatically; every time the user moves to a new environment, they may change the settings accordingly by pushing a button.
- Digital Hearing Aids: Digital hearing aids are widely preferred and are more commonly found these days. They convert the sound waves into digital signals and involve more complex sound processing during amplification. Instead of making every sound louder, the digital models can distinguish between speech and noise automatically, thus amplifying only the important speech sounds, delivering a clearer, more balanced and natural sound. Since digital hearing aids have a higher number of microchips and more advanced ones, they are capable of storing more program settings compared to analog models.
Key Takeaways
Choosing the right hearing aid can be a daunting task, especially when you are a first-time buyer. You have to choose from multiple styles and models, many of which may sound unfamiliar to you initially. Similarly, deciding between analog and digital may also sound confusing, as you need to understand your listening environments and the level of technology you need. However, consulting a qualified audiologist will help you make an informed decision, as the professional will prescribe only what’s right for you based on your hearing test results, lifestyle, listening needs, and budget. If you are still unsure whether you actually need a hearing aid, learning about the signs you need a hearing aid can help you understand when it may be time to seek professional advice. We hope this blog has given you the clarity you need to take the next step toward better hearing.
