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Hearing Aid Technology Styles |
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Open Fit
- For mild to moderately severe
losses
- Smaller and less visible than
the traditional BTE
- Merges the cosmetic advantages
of ITE's with the technological possibilities of BTE's
- Often have greater feature
options than a CIC as it can house more components (T-coil,
directional microphones, etc.)
- Less occlusion due to Open Fit
- Some have remote controls
- Can be affected by earwax or
ear drainage
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In-The-Canal (ITC)
- For mild to moderately severe
losses
- Not as small as CIC but less
visible than ITE style
- Often have greater feature
options than a CIC as it can house more components (volume
control, directional microphones, etc.)
- Some have remote controls
- More likely to be affected by
earwax or ear drainage over other models
- Has larger control options
than CIC
- Custom made
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In-The-Ear (ITE)
- For mile to severe loss
- Largest of custom made hearing
aids
- Custom housing fits in the
outer ear and extends into the ear canal
- Least cosmetically appealing
- More vulnerable to wind noise
- Easy to adjust and insert
because of larger size
- Adjustable volume control
(usually)
- Longer battery life using a
larger battery
- More likely to be affected by
ear wax or ear drainage over other models
- Normally inexpensive
- Custom made
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Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
- Good for mild to profound
hearing losses
- Sound is conducted to a custom
ear mold through a plastic tube and includes a behind-the-ear
component
- Larger controls make them
easier to handle
- Most powerful and often
easiest to adjust amongst other hearing aid styles
- Largest, most visible of all
hearing aids
- Can hold more "hardware", such
as T-coils, data logging, etc.
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Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
- For mild to moderately severe
losses
- Smallest of today's hearing
aid where the entire device fits within the ear canal
- Typically interfaces with
telephones without feedback
- Almost invisible in the ear
- Limited room for additional
features (volume control, directional microphones, etc)
- Limited battery life using
small batteries
- Reduced sensitivity to wind
noise
- More likely to be affected by
earwax or ear drainage over other models
- Often more expensive
- Custom made
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From left to right, the close-up
images above are:
Behind-the-Ear, Open-Fit, In-the-Ear, In-The-Canal and
Completely-In-The-Canal |
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courtesy of
Starkey and
Oticon |
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Related Links to Hearing Aid
Technology |
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