Suffering hearing loss can happen at any age, but it is more common in the elderly. Reasons for hearing loss can range from genetic to environmental, but it makes living a normal social life next to impossible. Therefore, hearing aids can be a great asset to your quality of life. They help you improve your balance and proprioception. There are different types of hearing aids, varying in price and functionality, so it is best to comparison shop prior to purchasing.
Types
Digital
Technology has made vast advancements to every area of life, including hearing aids. Prior to the digital age, hearing aids could only do a generic amplification of sound. However, with the digital hearing aids, a patient can raise the volume of voice and filter out the background noise. In addition, you can pair up your aid with the television, your phone, or another electronic device that others may not want to hear as loud. These hearing aids can be extremely small and not visible to everyone else. However, you are also going to be getting those advantages with a large price tag. Most private insurance companies will not cover these hearing aids, but some clinicians will create payment plans making them more affordable.
Personal Sound Amplifier
The other option is non-digital, or the personal sound amplifier. These hearing aids are often found over the counter, so they are easier to obtain and they are cheaper in price. Unfortunately, these hearing aids amplify all of the sounds around the user, so they are best for people who only have minimal hearing loss.
Styles
BTE
The most common type of hearing aid found is the style where the components are behind the ear, and the receiver is in the ear. These aids are known as "behind-the-ear" or BTEs. They are extremely comfortable and easy to insert. They are, however, more prone to collect ear wax, and low frequencies may be missed.
Thin Tube BTE
As mentioned above, the BTE aids have a large tube that contain the components of the hearing aid. People who have more hearing loss may want more amplification, which is available in the thin tube BTE aids. They still have the larger batteries and are easy to install. However, you still run into the problem of wax buildup.
Completely ITC
Hearing aids that do not have the telecoil are known as "in-the-canal" or ITCs. These hearing aids are not highly advisable even though they are easy to remove. They are hard to control the volume and battery life is often short.
ITC
Unlike the completely ITC aids, standard ITCs have microphones and improved volume controls. They still have small batteries, so that will be a complication, but it will not be as difficult to change out the batteries as the completely ITC aids.
In the Ear
Probably one of the best hearing aid styles is the in-the-ear style. These hearing aids fill up the entire inner ear, but they have plenty of room for the microphone, volume control, and decent battery size. They are more visible, but they do not have the same plugged feeling because they are often vented.
For more information, contact Audiology Consultants, P.C. or a similar organization.
Share5 November 2015
