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.
If you are one of the 10 million people in the UK diagnosed with hearing loss, you may benefit from wearing hearing aids. While they cannot cure your hearing loss or restore it to what it used to be, they can significantly improve your hearing.
As hearing aids have got smaller, they offer more features than ever before. There are now hearing aids for most types of hearing loss and style, fitting and functionality requirements. But with all the choice available, choosing the right set of hearing aids can seem a daunting prospect. While your hearing care professional will be able to advise you, it’s also a good idea to do your research, especially if hearing aids are new to you.
The receiver-in-canal is suitable for people with a mild to severe hearing loss and has mostly replaced the in-the-ear (ITE) model of hearing aid. It has a much smaller speaker that sits in your ear canal to enable sound to travel a much shorter distance from the speaker via your ear canal and eardrum. This provides a clear and more complete sound. The increased distance between the receiver and microphone also provides less feedback.
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The behind-the-ear (BTE) style of hearing aid is suitable for moderate to severe hearing loss and has a small, hard plastic case worn behind the ear. This connects to a custom-made plastic ear mould that fits inside the outer ear.
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These are very small and discreet hearing aids that are designed for people with a mild to moderately severe hearing loss. They are inserted into the ear canal, making them almost invisible. They usually have a small cord or handle attached for easy removal.
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The in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is suitable for people with a mild to moderate hearing loss. It is custom moulded to fit your inner ear canal to enable sound to travel through the device.
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An IIC hearing aid is position deep into the ear canal near the eardrum. Lyric from Phonak is the only entirely invisible hearing aid currently available. Suitable for a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss, this device depends on the natural anatomy of the wearer’s ear to amplify and deliver a complete and natural listening experience.
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This type of hearing aid is suitable for mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss. It uses laser light to transmit data and power to a small customised lens that sits in your eardrum, providing you with the sensation of natural hearing. This device bridges the gap between a middle ear implant and an air-conduction hearing aid. The output is personalised for your specific needs through light calibration.
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Hearing aids have the potential of transforming your hearing and quality of life. Schedule a consultation with a hearing care professional to help you find the hearing aid that will work best for you.
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.
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