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Hearing Aids





How Hearing Aids Help





Types of Hearing Aids


Types of hearing aids include:

  • Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. These have two main parts. A small hard plastic case goes behind the ear that holds the electronics that make up the actual hearing aid. It's connected to a plastic piece called an earmold that fits inside the outermost part of the ear. Sound travels from the hearing aid through the earmold and into the ear. BTEs are used by people of all ages to treat mild to profound hearing loss.
  • In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids. These fit completely inside the outer ear. They can help with mild to severe hearing loss. As with BTEs, there's a hard plastic case that holds the electronic components, but in this case it's joined to the earmold itself, so it's all one piece.

    Some ITEs have something called a telecoil installed. A telecoil is a small magnetic coil that allows people to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone. Telecoils can make it easier to hear conversations over the telephone. They also help people hear in public places that have installed special sound systems, called induction loop systems. Churches, schools, airports, and auditoriums often use loop induction systems.
  • Canal hearing aids. These fit directly in the ear canal and come in two slightly different styles. The first, an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid, is custom made to fit the size and shape of a person's ear canal. The second, a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid, is slightly different from the ITC and is nearly hidden in the ear canal. Both canal hearing aids are used to treat mild to moderately severe hearing loss.



Feeling Good

Hearing aids should be comfortable. As your ear grows, your audiologist may need to change the earmold part of the hearing aid. If a hearing aid is really irritating your ear, contact your audiologist as soon as possible. The audiologist can adjust it and make sure you get the most comfortable hearing aid possible. There's no point in being able to hear well if it hurts to do so!

Earmolds are now available in fun color assortments or ones that match your skin so you'll be able to pick a color you prefer. Cleaning makes a difference in hearing aid comfort. A perfectly comfortable hearing aid can become pretty uncomfortable over time if earwax builds up and is not taken care of on a daily basis. A dirty hearing aid not only can be uncomfortable, but also can lead to infections.


Looking Good



It can take a little time to get used to the idea (and the comfort) of wearing hearing aids. But just keep focused on how much more you can hear with them. Most people would rather wear a barely noticeable device and be able to hear the world around them. Who'd want to miss hearing a crush say how good you look!

Reviewed by: Thierry Morlet, PhD
Date reviewed: August 2011

Kids Health

