For individuals who need hearing aids, the number of different shapes, technology options, and special features can be overwhelming. The feeling of needing to pick the “perfect” device is amplified because as humans our hearing is our connection to the world and others. This need can feel especially true for those who live in remote locations or prefer hobbies that require lots of situational awareness, like camping or hunting, as many of our Alaskan patients do. Hopefully, this guide will give you some knowledge and terminology to help you start your journey deciding what hearing aids may suit your lifestyle best. And don’t worry—no matter what, your local audiologist can also help guide you through this decision process and answer any questions you may have.
The first part of this guide talks about the different hearing aid shapes. There are a few different common styles, including completely-in-the-canal, in-the-canal, receiver-in-the-ear, and behind-the-ear devices.
Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
Completely–in–the–canal devices are exactly what their name suggests! These devices are meant to be very small, sit deep within the ear canal, and be very discreet. These devices are best for individuals with mild hearing loss and for those who are okay with battery–powered devices, as at this time they do not come in rechargeable versions.
In-The-Canal (ITC)
In–the–canal devices are similar to completely–in–the–canal devices but are typically slightly larger. These devices are ideal for mild to moderate hearing losses and can come in either battery or rechargeable form. These devices also give more wiggle room for growing with you if your hearing loss changes, as their slightly bigger body style allows for more computer components.
Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC)
Receiver–in–the–ear devices have a small body piece that sits up at the top of the ear, near where a person’s glasses may sit, and then a small wire that feeds sound into the ear canal for audibility. These devices are the most flexible of all the styles and can handle mild losses all the way to severe/profound losses due to the customizability of the large computer components and the ability to change how the hearing aid sits within the ear canal with interchangeable end pieces. These come both in battery and rechargeable versions.
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
Behind–the–ear devices are similar to the receiver–in–the–ear style. They have a body piece at the top of the ear, and this time they have a tube feeding to the ear, usually fitted with a custom earmold to perfectly match the patient’s ear. This body style is usually larger to hold more computer parts, as it is specialized for those with severe and profound hearing losses. These are typically battery–powered devices.
The next set of factors that tend to trip people up is the specific technology levels. There are three levels we tend to use to help explain the concept to our patients. These are: controlled, balanced, and challenging. These names are based on our patients’ listening lifestyle.
1. Controlled:
This technology level is best for our older patients who may be homebodies, who usually interact one on one with caregivers or family and may occasionally watch TV or enter low–noise environments. These devices help amplify sounds but do not provide much support in more difficult listening environments, such as restaurants, musicals, or movie theaters for example.
2. Balanced:
This technology level is best for many individuals. These devices help amplify sounds, increase speech understanding in noisy situations, and allow for a greater level of flexibility for updating as the patient’s hearing needs change.
3. Challenging:
This technology level is best for our active patients. These devices do everything the previous ones do and are even more flexible compared to their technology counterparts. These devices will help in almost any situation with very little need to make your own adjustments.
On top of the shape and technology of devices, special features can also influence someone’s decisions. Some aspects people are interested in include Bluetooth capabilities, water-resistance ratings, app compatibility, and more! The great news is that most devices work wonderfully regarding the previously listed features. Almost all rechargeable devices will be Bluetooth compatible; water resistant and able to handle almost all weather conditions; and compatible with an app to allow volume changes just by using your phone! Battery devices are a case-by-case basis. They typically have less water resistance due to the battery opening, and they may have fewer Bluetooth capabilities if they are of the completely-in-the-canal or in-the-canal varieties, as the smaller the device the fewer extras can be included.
The importance of choosing the right hearing aid can be intimidating. Hopefully, this list helps make things clearer and allows you to feel confident! However, if you still have questions or want to talk about various options, your audiologist is the best resource.
As audiologists, we want to help our patients make the best decisions for them and to give them the best listening experience possible. If you have any questions, always feel free to request a callback or contact us at (907) 522-4357.
