Hearing Aid Types

Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing aids are available in five basic styles designed to meet most hearing needs. The first three are referred to as custom hearing aids because an impression of the ear opening is taken and the shell of the hearing aid is manufactured according to this impression.

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)

The smallest of the hearing instruments, these are custom-made to fit deeply inside your ear canal so that they are practically invisible.

In-the-Canal (ITC)

These are also custom-made and small enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal. They can be hardly noticeable.

In-the-Ear (ITE)

These are custom-made hearing aids made to fit within the external ear. They are the most widely recommended style.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) and Open Fit

These fit comfortably behind the ear and are attached to either a custom ear-mold or a special open tip and tube that directs sound from the instrument into the ear. BTE and Open Fit models are versatile and can fit a variety of hearing losses.

Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC)

The receiver-in-the-canal device is small, discreet, and incredibly quick to fit; perfect for many first-time wearers.

Open Fit

The Open Fit style is nearly invisible and is extremely comfortable.

Our hearing aids are specifically prescribed and designed for your particular hearing loss.

There are many different degrees and types of hearing impairment and technology has paved the way for many innovative products designed to improve a broad range of hearing impairments.

Hearing Device Components:

One or many microphones. The microphone gathers sound and converts it to electrical impulses. More than one microphone collects sound from different areas.
An amplifier is used to increase the strength of the impulses.
The receiver transforms the electrical impulses back into sound waves and redirects them into the ear of the wearer.
A battery is needed to supply the energy source.

Other Components:

A computer chip is found in programmable hearing aids.
There are switches on the aid that turn the device on or off, allow for phone usage or provide the ability to control volume.

Programs offer various sounds for a variety of listening environments. As an example, one program may be for conversations, another for the telephone and a third for noisy situations. An aid can come with numerous programs and the wearer may manually change back and forth between different programs, while some aids switch automatically.

Hearing Device Technology

Analog vs. Digital - the main difference between analog, the conventional system, and digital, the new technology, is in their method of conversion. Analog converts sound waves to electrical waves while digital converts sound waves using exact mathematical calculations that are processed by a computer.

Analog Hearing Aids

Do not distinguish different sounds and therefore amplify all sounds equally, which means some sounds are too loud while others may be difficult to hear. This is rectified when the hearing aid user adjusts the volume.
Programmable analog hearing aids are equipped with different programs that are saved in the aid. The programs are then switched depending on the listening environment. As an example, one program will work during a conversation, while the other may work best while in the theater.

Digital Hearing Aids

Translates sound to digital code, changes the sound and re-transmits it back by using mathematical calculations.
Duplicates sound transmission.
Produces a high quality sound that is extremely accurate.

We believe that the digital system has revolutionized hearing by accurately duplicating sound transmission. Digital hearing aids have many benefits and numerous automatic features.