subject: Hearing Aids - The Different Types [print this page] Hearing aids broadly fall within four main categories. They all have the same purpose, but they differ in terms of size and shape. Which type of hearing aid is best for you is dependent on your budget and your personal preferences. What follows is an overview of each of the main types of hearing aids...
The first type of hearing aid is one that fits directly into the canal of your ear. It is the smallest type available, but it is not easily customizable and the battery life tends to be much shorter than that of other hearing aids. The second type of hearing aid fits partially inside the ear canal and partially outside of it. It is more visible when you wear it, but it offers more features than a hearing aid that fits directly in the ear canal. The battery life is reasonable, but still not as long as you would want it to be.
The third type of hearing aid is the most common, and sits in front of the canal in the outer ear. If your hearing is very bad then one of these is advisable over the first two types of hearing aids because these ones typically have a bigger microphone incorporated. Its drawbacks are that it is very visible and may pick up background noises that distract from what you actually want to hear.
The fourth type of hearing aid fits behind the ear. They fit behind the ear but also have a component that rests inside it to maximize their effectiveness. These are the most customizable, but are also the most visible. They are a good choice, so long as you do not mind it being obvious that you are wearing a hearing aid.
In each of these types of hearing aids, the technology used varies as well as the size and shape of them. The least-expensive technology has been used for several decades, and is called analog. They certainly do help you to hear better, but they only work well at amplifying sounds at particular volumes and pitches. Noises which fall outside of the 'norm' will not be easy to hear.
The alternative to an analog hearing aid is a digital hearing aid. They have an inbuilt computer chip that automatically adjusts the sounds that it picks up to suit your level of hearing. As you would expect, digital hearing aids are significantly more expensive than analog hearing aids. It is worth paying the extra if you can afford to because they are a lot more effective.
