What are the Different Types of Hearing Aids
Do you turn the TV volume up and miss out on words spoken during one-on-one conversations? These symptoms of hearing loss can often be successfully treated with a hearing aid. If you're diagnosed with hearing loss, you can choose from a wide variety of hearing aids to correct the condition.
What Is a Hearing Aid and How Does it Work?
Hearing aids amplify soft sounds that people with hearing loss normally can’t hear. They don’t actually restore normal hearing, which is usually diminished due to heredity, aging, and prolonged exposure to loud noises.
With digital hearing aids, tiny microphones pick up sounds that are converted into digital code via a computer chip and amplifier. The hearing aid determines which sounds are important based on your unique needs, and then converts the amplified signal into sound waves you can hear via speakers.
Digital hearing aids are complex devices that are fine-tuned by professionals using sophisticated computer software to tailor the device to your needs. These devices have a wide range of functions and settings you can change based on your surroundings, such as a loud social gathering or watching TV.
When Is a Hearing Aid Necessary?
After a comprehensive exam by an audiologist or ENT, you’ll learn if you can benefit from a hearing aid and if one or two devices will offer the best results. If you have hearing loss in both ears, two devices could give you the best outcome for your hearing needs. Hearing aids, whether you opt for one or two devices, offers the following advantages:
- Increased comprehension of speech
- Increased comprehension of speech in loud or group settings
- Increased ability to detect the direction of sounds
- Increased sound quality
- Better overall tone
- Larger range of hearing
- A feeling of balanced hearing
- Decreased feedback or whistling noises
- Decreased discomfort from tinnitus (ringing in ears)
What Kinds of Hearing Aids Are Offered?
Lakeside ENT offers a wide variety of digital hearing aids from different manufacturers. After a thorough exam from a certified audiologist, you’ll be able to choose a hearing aid based on your special hearing needs and budget concerns. For treatment success, it’s vital that you learn how to operate the features on your new hearing aid and attend follow up appointments to ensure your device is working properly. Some of our popular hearing aids include:
- Completely in the Canal (CIC) – this device is hidden inside the ear canal and is effective for those with mild and moderate hearing loss.
- In the Canal (ITC) – Also for mild to moderate hearing loss, this device is custom molded to fit partially inside the ear canal.
- In the Ear (ITE) – Recommended for mild to severe hearing loss, this custom made hearing aid can be made to fill the entire bowl-shaped area of your outer ear or just the lower half.
- Behind the Ear (BTE) – This device rests behind the ear while a tube directs sounds to a speaker inside the ear canal.
- A receiver in Canal or Receiver in the Ear (RIC or RITE) – this hearing aid is similar to the BTE, which connects the speaker in the ear canal with the main device via a small wire.
If you think you may be a candidate for a hearing aid, the Hearing Center at Lakeside Allergy ENT can help. We have highly qualified audiologists and ENTs on staff ready to diagnose your hearing loss and fit you with the perfect hearing aid to bring clear, quality sound back into your life.
Call Lakeside ENT for a hearing evaluation today at 972-771-5443.
Request an Appointment
The following form is only for appointment requests. No medical advice is provided through this website.
