CONVENIENT: What types of hearing aids are there?
Hearing damage at a young age? It is useful to ask yourself what different hearing aids are out there.
Hearing damage at a young age is just as common as in old age. Very annoying, but don’t be ashamed of it. Take action and look for the aids that nowadays fit perfectly into your lifestyle and appearance. Fortunately, nowadays you can have custom hearing protection made to prevent (further) hearing damage and you can use a hearing aid to improve hearing.
There are different types of hearing aids, all of which are discussed below. Do you have hearing damage? Do something about it! You want to be able to continue to enjoy music and good conversations, and move safely through traffic, right?
Different hearing aids
There are different types of hearing aids, all of which are discussed below.
In-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids
The first type of hearing aid, which is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss, is an in-the-ear hearing aid. This hearing aid falls completely into the ear canal. There are five different in-the-ear hearing aids, ranging between invisible in-canal and fully in-auricle. The latter kind fits in the outer auricle, while the smallest kind sits almost invisibly in the ear. You can also get a behind-the-ear hearing aid, the most popular type. All parts of the hearing aid are located behind the ear. These parts make contact with an earmold in the ear by means of a tube. Often behind-the-ear hearing aids have more options than in-the-ear hearing aids.
Types of in-the-ear hearing aids
The smallest available device is the fully in-canal hearing aid, also known as the CIC. This type of hearing aid is custom-made so that it fits nicely in the ear canal. Here the hearing aid is virtually invisible to other people. Another kind is the in-canal hearing aid (ITC), which is also very discreet and small. A slightly more visible model, which is suitable for more severe hearing loss, is the half-in-auricle hearing aid. For really significant hearing loss, the fully in-ear cup is also a good choice. Finally, there is also the invisible in-channel (IIC) hearing aid, which can automatically adapt to the sound environment.
Types of behind-the-ear hearing aids
There are two types of behind-the-ear hearing aids. The first is the miniRITE, a small and discreet variant. This hearing aid is suitable for most forms of hearing loss and for almost all forms of ear canal. There is also the hearing aid with open fitting. This type is able to adapt to different listening situations. Furthermore, the ear canal is kept open, allowing sound to enter the ear more naturally.
Other types of hearing aids
Hearing aids can also be divided into other categories. For example, there are rechargeable hearing aids, which contain rechargeable batteries. You don’t have to replace batteries anymore, because you can charge them during the night. You can also opt for a hearing aid with Bluetooth technology. This allows you to connect your hearing aid to devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets or the television. For example, you can hear the sound from the TV directly in your ear.
Hearing protection or hearing aid?
Not sure whether you need hearing protection or a hearing aid? These two concepts are sometimes confused, but there are differences. Hearing protection is used to prevent hearing damage. Hearing protection can be custom made to fit your ear canal perfectly. However, if you have already suffered hearing damage, a hearing aid is often necessary. A hearing aid amplifies sounds so that people with hearing loss can hear better.
If you have the impression that you have been hearing less lately and may need a hearing aid, you can do a hearing test at the hearing care professional. See here for more information.
