| Hearing Aids - so much choice, what's right for me? | | | | RITE: 'Receiver In The Ear' hearing aids. |
| Understanding the advantages of what's available to | | | | This type of aid is a hybrid of a standard 'BTE' aid. |
| you can be tricky if you don't know what each type | | | | The aid is typically 1/3 size of a standard BTE aid. |
| does... In truth there aren't any disadvantages between | | | | The loudspeaker rests in the ear canal and the main |
| the diffewrent types, they just suit peoples needs | | | | BTE aid section is behind the ear. |
| differently. Technology has developed so much over | | | | Ear canal is left open for air flow. |
| the years to provide us with high quality, discrete | | | | Very comfortable - almost feels like you're hearing |
| devices that perform incredibly well in different | | | | without any aids. |
| situations. | | | | Cosmetically appealing - very discrete. |
| Types Available | | | | Twin microphones for better hearing in noisy |
| ITE: 'In The Ear' hearing aids | | | | environments. |
| Twin microphones for better hearing in noisy | | | | Supplied with either standard or power amplifier for |
| environments. | | | | severe hearing losses. |
| Larger amplifier for more severe hearing losses. | | | | Your hearing aid audiologist can advice you on what's |
| Volume control and program change buttons possible. | | | | best for you but sometimes it's good to do your own |
| Less risk of feedback (whistling) due to better seal in | | | | research. It's hard to choose a leading manufacturer |
| ear canal. | | | | because there are so many out there which make |
| Easier to handle for people with arthritis or sight | | | | fantastic products. What it really comes down to is |
| impairment. | | | | personal taste and comfort. If you like the look, feel |
| ITC: 'In The Canal' hearing aids | | | | and performance then that's usually a good sign that it |
| Twin microphones for better hearing in noisy | | | | will suit you for the long run. |
| environments. | | | | I personally think the manufacturers that produce the |
| Volume control and program change buttons possible. | | | | best aids are: Phonak, Unitron, Oticon, Widex, Resound, |
| More discrete than ITE aids. | | | | Starkey and Siemens. All of these brands produce |
| CIC: 'Completely In Canal' hearing aids. | | | | excellent high quality aids, they all offer different |
| Cosmetically appealing - very discrete. | | | | advantages and prices vary considerably. You |
| Uses natural acoustic properties of the ear concha. | | | | shouldn't just choose a dispenser because they rank |
| BTE: 'Behind The Ear' hearing aids. | | | | number 1 in google, look around check directories talk |
| Consists of a mould and hearing aid piece. | | | | to them on the phone before you make a decision and |
| Mould sits in ear and hearing aid sits behind ear. The 2 | | | | take them up on their free hearing test, it's the best |
| parts are attached via a tube which allows sound to | | | | way to find out whether they are what you're looking |
| travel from the aid to the ear. | | | | for. |
| Twin microphones for better hearing in noisy | | | | The latest hearing aids are also becoming more user |
| environments. | | | | friendly, in terms of how they can be integrated with |
| Larger amplifier for severe-profound hearing losses. | | | | other technologies, like telecommunications devices. |
| Volume control and program change buttons. | | | | The iCom from Phonak or the Streamer from Oticon |
| Less risk of feedback (whistling) due to better seal in | | | | are good examples of what people are expecting |
| ear canal. | | | | from their heairng aids. These devices can easily |
| Easier to handle for people with arthritis or sight | | | | connect to Bluetooth enabled mobile phones, |
| impairment. | | | | Televisions and even MP3 players etc. |