Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are available in a range of styles. Each style is designed to meet differing requirements based on your hearing loss and anatomy. After your hearing evaluation, our Audiologists will explain the advantages and benefits associated with each hearing aid style suitable for your particular hearing loss and lifestyle. We will help you determine what style of hearing aids makes the most sense with your hearing loss, listening environments and budget.
Hover over the people below to learn more about the various styles of hearing aids.
The BTE is a popular style worn behind the ear that connects to an earmold that rests inside the outer ear. Sound is conducted from the hearing aid into the earmold. Although this can be the largest type of hearing aid, it is also the most powerful and often the easiest to adjust. BTE hearing aids are appropriate for the treatment of almost all types of hearing loss.
The BTE is a popular style worn behind the ear that connects to an earmold that rests inside the outer ear. Sound is conducted from the hearing aid into the earmold. Although this can be the largest type of hearing aid, it is also the most powerful and often the easiest to adjust. BTE hearing aids are appropriate for the treatment of almost all types of hearing loss. The remote microphone design is engineered to use the natural shape of the ear to improve directivity, wind noise protection, and sound localization.Remote microphone hearing instruments help maintain natural and directional localization cues through microphone placement in the concha cymba area of the pinna. Because behind-the-ear (BTE) and some traditional custom hearing instruments have less-than-ideal microphone placement, distortions can occur if sound collection from the pinna is not utilized. Taking advantage of the pinna effect helps to preserve natural localization and directional cues.
A new and smaller type of BTE hearing aid, the open fit style fits snugly behind the ear and includes a narrow tube that is inserted into the ear canal to remove occlusion or what’s called the “head in a barrel” effect. More discrete than a traditional BTE hearing aid, this device leaves the ear canal more open, making it ideal for those with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss.
The newest in custom hearing aid styles is a micro device that fits deep into the ear canal completely hidden from view.
This type of hearing aid fits snugly inside the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear and can be used to fit mild to severe hearing loss. Although ITE hearing aids are more visible, they are generally easier to insert and adjust and have a longer battery life than other, smaller hearing aids.
This customer hearing aid model is molded to fit completely inside your ear canal. The outer faceplate of the shell is barely visible in the ear canal. The CIC is a very discreet option that can fit a mild to moderate hearing loss.
