Which Hearing Aids Do I Need?

Now that’s a tough question. Every person’s hearing is different and every ear is different, which makes knowing which hearing you need very difficult. We recommend speaking to an audiologist to figure out which kind you need. This will depend on the type of hearing loss you have, how old you are, your lifestyle, and of course how much you are willing to spend. However for every person there a few different models which will probably work, so you can definitely state a preference. There are three main styles:

 

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)

These hearing aids sit in a hard plastic case behind the ear, and use a small tube to direct sounds to the ear. BTE are the most common hearing aids as you can use them no matter your age or level of hearing loss.

 

Canal Hearing Aids

These fit inside your ear and are harder to see. However because of their size they can be harder to adjust and remove. An Invisible-In-Canal hearing aid may be put in for several months at a time, or you may have to put it in every day.

 

In-The-Ear (ITE)

These hearing aids completely fit inside your ear.

 

It is impossible to say which type of hearing aid is better – each have pros and cons and it depends on personal choice. For example whilst many people want hearing aids which are as small as possible, these can be hard to manipulate and keep clean. Instead you may want to ask your audiologist about what features are available, such as which models comes with a compatible mobile app which can be used to program the hearing aid, or a feature which reduces the sound of your own voice, an experience many people are uncomfortable with initially.