Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are complicated technical instruments that are tailored to the individual client’s needs. There are many different types and styles of hearing aids available today due to rapid advances in technology. The following section summarises the main aspects of the various styles in hearing aids:

Hearing aid styles

The choices depend on individual preferences combined with the extent and nature of the hearing loss and your Audiologist’s recommendation.

Behind the Ear

This style of aid (BTE) sits behind the ear and is attached via tubing to a custom made mould that fits in the ear canal.

Today’s behind-the-ear instruments are highly regarded due to their reliability, long life and suitability for a wide range of hearing loss. Their unique earmould system reduces “whistling”, making them comfortable to wear.

In the Canal

This style (ITC) sits in the canal portion of the ear and is slightly visible.

Completely in Canal

This style (CIC) is the smallest available and sits entirely within the ear canal. Not everyone can operate them due to their size and they cannot be manufactured for clients with very small ear canals.

In the Ear

This style of aid (ITE) sits fully inside the ear and is the largest of the in-the-ear models. It is a useful style for patients with limited manipulation ability (such as severe arthritis) as it holds a larger battery and can have larger controls.

It is capable of producing more power suitable for patients with moderate to severe losses.

Open Fit BTE

This is a new style of behind-the-ear hearing device made possible by advances in technology. Originally designed for the “baby boomers”, it has now flowed into widespread clinical practice throughout the world.

The primary advantage is that the ear canal is unoccluded. This means that one’s own voice sounds natural and environmental sounds can be also heard in their unamplified state via the openness of the ear canal.

Sounds are channelled into the ear canal via a near invisible capillary tube that is attached to a miniature behind the ear device. The BTE component is generally about the size of the last joint of our little finger rendering it extremely light weight and inconspicuous.

The open fit BTE system is well suited for mild to moderate high frequency loss.

Receiver in the Ear

RITE is a new technology being introduced by a number of manufacturers. This replaces the conducting sound tube with an electrical wire that drives a miniature loudspeaker, located at its end, in the ear canal. As there is no conducting sound tube then a smoother acoustic response can be obtained. This technology does require sophisticated and fast acting feedback cancelling systems to be designed into the instrument to provide acoustic stability.