When you’re shopping for hearing aids, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options that are available out there. And there are a lot of options! The fact is, no two people are alike. Everyone has different needs when it comes to their hearing aids. You want to find a hearing aid that fits you, so we’ve compiled this guide on hearing aid shopping.
What to Consider When Comparing Hearing Aids
While every hearing aid will help the user hear better, there are some variables that you need to keep in mind that will help inform which style would work best for you:
- The severity of your hearing loss
- The shape and size of your ear and ear canal
- Your personal style preferences
- Your lifestyle (e.g., active, social, solitary, etc.)
- Special features you want, such as Bluetooth connectivity, health tracking and directional microphone
Consider your needs in terms of the list above. If your hearing loss is severe, you should prioritize a hearing aid with greater power. If you live an active lifestyle, you’ll want a durable hearing aid that can withstand the elements and heavy use. If you like taking advantage of new technology, you should look for a hearing aid that’s large enough to include those features.
Comparing Hearing Aid Styles
Once you have a good handle on what you need in a hearing aid from the list above, it’s time to look at the different styles of hearing aids.
Remember that all hearing aids will have the same basic components: microphone, speaker, sound processor and battery. All hearing aid styles can do the same thing—help you hear better—and no hearing aid style is inherently “better” than any other.
Behind-the-Ear
The most common style of hearing aid, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids hook over the top of the ear, with the microphone and sound processor in the body behind the ear and the speaker inside the ear canal.
Features of BTE hearing aids:
- Powerful enough for all levels of hearing loss
- Can connect to different earpiece styles, making them adaptable to many ear shapes
- Largest in size. While this makes them more noticeable and may have shorter battery life, their size makes them easier to handle, and you can control volume and settings on the shell
- Durable
- Many features available
In-the-Ear
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids fit inside the ear, filling either your entire ear (known as full-shell) or a portion of the bowl (known as half-shell).
Features of ITE hearing aids:
- Powerful enough for all levels of hearing loss
- Molded to perfectly match the shape of your ear
- Smaller than BTE, so it’s less visible and may have a longer battery life, but still large enough to have volume control on the hearing aid itself
- Made of durable materials, but more exposed to earwax and moisture from inside the ear
- More limited space for extra features
In-the-Canal and Completely-in-the-Canal
The canal options are available in two styles: in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC). Both of these styles, as the name suggests, are placed entirely inside the ear canal, nearly hidden from sight.
Features of ITC and CIC hearing aids:
- For mild to moderate hearing loss. Due to their small size, they have less power to amplify sounds, so these are not suitable for profound or severe hearing loss.
- Custom molds fit perfectly in your ear
- Nearly invisible
- May be too small for people with dexterity issues. Additionally, there is a need for smaller batteries, which may not last as long.
- Less features available
The Right Hearing Aid for You
Your hearing needs are your own, and you need a hearing aid that can meet those needs. We hope the information above will help you narrow down your choices.
Additionally, we recommend you have a discussion with your audiologist about what style will work best for you. Your audiologist will have some expert guidance on what your hearing loss needs, as well as be able to walk you through some of the awesome technology features of modern hearing aids that you might find helpful.
To begin your hearing loss journey and discuss hearing aid styles and options, call South Valley Ear Nose & Throat – West Jordan today.