Hearing Aid Styles To Fit Your Needs and Lifestyle

There are 3 main styles of hearing aid available today. There are those that are behind-the ear, in-the-ear, and canal. Before getting your heart set on one of these styles you will want to have your ears tested because that will likely influence the types of aids from which you will be able to choose. Some places offer a free test on your ability to hear and also sell aids.

You might be most familiar with the larger aids called behind-the-ear. These aids store the electronics of the device behind the ear and that connects to an ear mold that is in the outer part of the ear. The sound will go from the actual electronic portion and go through the ear mold to eventually get into your ear to help you hear. A newer type of this style is now available that is called open-fit. This type has everything behind the ear without a large portion of it in the ear hole. Instead, there is just a small tube going into the ear. This is thought to be a helpful type for those who produce a lot of ear wax. It also may be beneficial to some because it might not make you feel that your own voice sounds strange with a plugged sound.

In-the-ear aids are another style of hearing aid that is available today. This type has all of its components in the ear opening. With this style, an individual could add a telecoil which may be beneficial for certain situations such as church or school where they may have a sound system that will work with the telecoil to help you hear better. The sound system is called an induction loop system. This is not the best type of hearing aid for some children that are always growing because as the ear grows, casings will need to be changed.

Aids that go in the canal are available in 2 different styles. One style is called completely-in-canal because it is barely visible with most of it being inside. The other style in-the canal, fits the canal shape. These aids are very small, so they would not be a good option for children or for those who wish to have a telecoil. They would also not be the best for those a severe inability to hear as their size does not allow them to have the power that some others have.

After having your ears tested and looking at your options for various styles of aids hopefully you will be able to choose the best one for you. There is nothing wrong with shopping around as well to make sure you are getting the best price.