Prior to contacting a licensed hearing care professional, familiarizing yourself with the different types of hearing aids is helpful, especially if you’re new to the world of hearing devices.
Around three million Canadians have some degree of hearing loss, and if you are one of them, you’ll know the impact hearing loss can have on a person’s life. Hearing aids provide an effective treatment for hearing loss and come with a multitude of features and styles to suit different hearing needs and lifestyles.
Knowing which type of hearing aid will offer the right fit for you can be challenging. That’s why we have created the guide below to help first-time hearing aid users decide which hearing aid would be the best choice for them.
The RIC hearing aid has increasingly taken the place of in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids. Designed for people with mild to severe hearing loss, it has a smaller speaker inserted directly into the ear canal. This means the sound has a shorter distance to travel from the speaker via the ear canal and eardrum. Along with a longer distance between the microphone and receiver, it provides a clear and more intact sound with less feedback.
Pros:
Cons:
This traditional style of hearing aid is appropriate for a moderate to severe hearing loss. It is made up of a small hard-plastic case worn behind the ear which houses all the hearing aid components. This BTE case connects to a custom-made plastic ear mold that fits inside the outer ear.
Pros:
Cons:
These are very small and highly discreet hearing aids suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss. The device is inserted into the ear canal, making them almost impossible to see. CIC hearing aids have a small cord or handle attached for easy removal.
Pros:
Cons:
ITC hearing aids are suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss and custom-molded to your inner ear canal to let sound travel through the device.
Pros:
Cons:
An IIC hearing aid is designed for a mild to moderate hearing loss. Its positioned deep in the ear canal near the drum and this must be done by a hearing care professional. Lyric from Phonak is the only entirely invisible hearing aid currently available. It uses the natural structure of the ear to amplify sound to provide a complete, natural hearing experience.
Pros:
Cons:
This unique hearing aid is appropriate for mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss. It uses a laser light that transmits power and data to a small custom-made lens in your eardrum. This technology delivers natural hearing and bridges the gap between an air-conduction hearing aid and a middle ear implant. The hearing aid’s output is personalized to each user through light calibration.
Pros:
Cons:
Modern hearing aids are designed to fit a broad range of hearing losses and are available in more sizes and styles than ever before. If you have noticed a change in your hearing or suspect that you may benefit from hearing aids, your next step is to schedule a consultation with a hearing care professional.
It's time to finally treat your hearing loss. Sign up for a free consultation with a licensed hearing care professional today to determine if you have hearing loss. It’s the start of your journey towards better hearing.
EarPros benefits:
