Which Are The Most Popular Types Of Hearing Aids?

If you are on the lookout for a hearing aid, it’s important to understand the various styles, manufacturers, and types of technology. These are all important when you are looking for a hearing aid that fits you and your lifestyle. For people who are on the lookout for popular types of hearing aids, here are the main ones that you need to know.

ITE (in the ear)

An ITE hearing aid is worn within the ear canal and is usually custom-fit. They are based on an impression taken by your audiologist when you are and to go in your hearing aid consultation. Also known as full shell, an ITE hearing aid is designed to fit into the bowl of the ear. They are custom-made to the mold of your ear, meaning they are very comfortable to wear. Due to their larger size, they tend to have more helpful technological features. 

The pros of ITE hearing aids

• Easy-to-use. As they are larger in size, they have more controls within the casing. 
• Easy to remove. As they fit inside the ear, they are easy to fit and remove. 
• Easy to clean and maintain. As there are no small components, they are much easier to clean than other smaller hearing aids. 
• Very comfortable. As they are manufactured for your needs, they are extremely comfortable to wear.

BTE (behind the ear)

This is another popular type of hearing aid. The design includes a case that goes behind the ear, containing the receiver and microphone which detects and processes the sounds. BTE aids can be in different colors which match hair or skin tone and can be personalized. 

The pros of BTE hearing aids

• Powerful amplification. BTE hearing aids are larger than other hearing aid types, and as they have separate behind the ear casing, they will provide more power and more advanced technological features than many small hearing aids. Additionally, they can contain a larger battery, so BTE hearing aids have more power. 
• Easy-to-use. BTE hearing aids can be controlled via a series of switches or buttons and can be replaced or combined with a variety of controllers, for example, smartphone apps. Because they are easy to use and easily customizable, there is a type of BTE hearing aid for everyone. 
• Affordable. Because of the classic design and slightly larger case, they are highly manufactured, they tend to be one of the more affordable varieties of hearing aids.
• Easier to clean. A BTE hearing aid is larger so it means that it is easier to clean and change the batteries in comparison to smaller types of hearing aids. 
• A long battery life. The design has a larger casing that houses the battery behind the ear, and therefore, can provide you with some of the best battery life of the many types available.

ITC (in the canal)

An ITC hearing aid sits in the lower portion of the outer ear bowl. As they are slightly larger than similar styles such as invisible in canal (IIC) and completely in the canal (CIC), they have longer battery life and can accommodate a wider range of hearing losses. 

The pros of ITC hearing aids

• Small in size. Due to being some of the smallest models on the market, they are great for people who feel self-conscious about wearing hearing aids. An ITC hearing aid is almost invisible because of how it is designed. As many people are reluctant to wear hearing aids, an ITC hearing aid could be very appealing. 
• Treats a variety of hearing loss. Some people find that there are very specific types of hearing aids that can treat their condition. ITC hearing aids work well for people experiencing the whole range of hearing loss, from mild to severe. 
• Are compatible with devices. Many modern hearing aids come with modern technology, and if you want to connect your hearing aids to your telephone, ITC hearing aids can help you with this.

Which hearing aid is right for me? 

As you can see, there are a wide variety of features and benefits to each popular type of hearing aids. If you are looking for a hearing aid and you need more information on the different types, you can get in contact with Texas Professional Hearing Center on (281) 420-8033 and we will be able to help you make a decision based on your lifestyle, budget, and level of hearing. There are many popular types of hearing aids, but you need to choose the one that suits you.