Hearing Aids
In most cases, nerve deafness and high frequency hearing loss can be corrected with hearing aids. Today, over 95 percent of persons with hearing loss can successfully wear hearing aids, as plenty of our patients would attest to. After a complete audiological evaluation, your audiologist may recommend hearing aids. He or she will take into consideration your lifestyle and personal goals and guide you to the most suitable circuit choice and hearing aid style.
Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids are available in a variety of styles and in a range of sound processing technologies. Hearing aids styles refer to the "packaging" of the technology and come in a variety of styles. Each style has its own advantages and limitations. Selecting a style that is right for you depends on a number of factors, including:
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The severity and configuration of your hearing loss
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The size and shape of your ear
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Your personal preferences
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How well you can use your finger and hands (manual dexterity)
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The availability of new hearing aid technologies
Behind-the-ear
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids among the most recognized hearing aid devices. They are housed in a curved case that fits over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. A custom ear mold is made to the exact shape of your ear. Sounds are captured by a tiny microphone on the hearing aid and after processing are transmitted from the device to your ear through a tube that connects the device to the ear mold, which fits in the ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing losses and for individuals of all ages. They can be worn easily, even by people who wear eyeglasses.
Open fit hearing devices
Open ear hearing aids (OF) are housed in a miniature case that fits over or behind the ear. The casing is noticeably smaller and the tubing is much thinner that BTE hearing aids. A small tip or dome at the end of the tube is used instead of a traditional ear mold (in most cases). This leaves the ear “open” and reduces problems with occlusion (stuffy or barrel feeling) leading to more natural sounding amplification. Today’s OF hearing aids come in two versions. The first is called “tube-fitting OF” that uses very small diameter tubing to a tiny dome in the ear canal. The microphone, amplifier/speech processor, and receiver are housed in the hearing aid itself and the sound is delivered into the ear canal via the thin tubing/dome assembly. The other version of OF is called “Receiver In the Canal (RIC).” This style looks almost identical to the other except that the speaker is separated from the hearing aid. This is accomplished by running a thin wire from the hearing aid down through the thin tubing and connecting it to a small receiver that fits into the ear canal. An advantage to this style is a wider range of hearing losses can now be fit with the availability of having the option of different “power” receivers.
In-the-ear
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are custom designed and fit directly into your ear, filling most of the visible portion of your ear. All of the components are housed within a single plastic shell. Due to their size, ITE hearing aids allow for larger sound amplifiers and more features such as program switch, directional microphones and volume control features. They have no external wires or tubes, and are very light in weight. When properly made, they fit comfortably and securely in the ear. The ITE hearing aid can be used can be used for a wide range of hearing losses.
In-the-canal
In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are custom designed, smaller in size, and fit more deeply into the ear canal than in-the-ear hearing aids. They are typically less visible than in-the-ear hearing aids. They are only slightly larger than the completely-in-the canal (CIC) hearing aids but smaller that the ITE hearing aids. All of the components are housed within a single plastic shell. Because they are smaller in size, however, they can only be used by people who have mild to moderate hearing loss.
Completely-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are also custom designed. They fit the deepest into the ear canal so they are the least visible. They may also reduce the problem of wind noise and feedback on the telephone. CIC hearing aids are meant for people with ear canals large enough to accommodate the insertion depth of the device in the ear. This style typically accommodates individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss; although, some manufacturers have power CICs for more severe losses available. The battery life for this style is rather short because the battery is so small. The aid's size can also make it difficult to manipulate, particularly for people who have trouble with finger and hand dexterity.
CROS/BI-CROS hearing aid
CROS/BI-CROS hearing aid is sometimes used when a person is deaf in one ear and has normal or near normal hearing in the other ear. It consists of two parts. The person wears what looks like two hearing aids in one of two styles - either BTE or ITE hearing aids. The ‘hearing aid’ worn on the deaf side basically consists of a microphone (to collect sounds on the deaf side) and a transmitter that sends those sounds either wireless or via cord to the ‘hearing aid’ on the better hearing ear. The sound is then processed by the hearing aid on the better hearing ear and delivered to the ear (CROS) or processed and amplified before it is delivered to the better hearing ear (BICROS)
Each of the styles of hearing aids has its benefits. If you would like to know more about the different hearing aid styles and what style would suit you best for your needs please contact Larnaca Audiology Center.
Pavlou Valdaseridi 24, KEVE court, office #2, Larnaca, 6018, CYPRUS
Web: www.larnacaaudiologycenter.com
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: (+357) 24665551 - (+357) 99299091
