Finding the Best Hearing Aids in Traverse City
Hearing Aid Types
Completely-in-Canal Hearing Aids
Completely-in-canal or CIC hearing aids are made to go all the way inside your ears and are some of the smallest available. With this kind of hearing aid, no part of the device will be visible.
Pros: Mild to moderate hearing loss can be effectively treated with completely-in-canal hearing aids which are very discreet. Wind interference is also less of a problem with CIC hearing aids because of the way they sit inside of the ears.
Cons: There are also some downsides to CIC hearing aids. Earwax can easily obstruct their functionality. They also tend to have a more limited battery lifespan. More advanced and sophisticated technology will often be left out because of size and space limitations.
In-the-Canal Hearing Aids
Hearing aids that are made to go on the outer edge of the ear are called In-the-canal or ITC hearing aids. The speaker will be tucked inside of the ear while some of the housing will sit outside of the ear and will be generally visible.
Pros: Usually, more advanced features and longer battery life are available in ITC hearing aids due to their larger size. They also feel more comfortable for some people. ITC hearing aids are more discreet than some other models that are larger.
Cons: ITC devices are a little less discreet than CIC models due to their location and size. Their speakers can have problems due to earwax accumulation. Adjusting settings may be challenging for some due to their smaller size.
In-the-Ear Hearing Aids
In-the-ear, or ITE hearing aids will usually sit in the bowl-shaped part of your ear lobe. In cases where a more discreet look is desired, the device can be made so it can be placed at the lower portion of the bowl shape. The two versions of this type of hearing aid are called "full shell" in the first case and "half shell" in the second example.
Pros: ITE hearing aids are a bit simpler to manage and customize due to their bigger size. This type of hearing aid usually comes with a more robust array of features than smaller types, and the battery will usually last longer.
Cons: ITE models sit mostly outside the ear canal and are more visible than in-the-canal models. With ITE models, wind noise can be a little more challenging than smaller styles because of where they're positioned.
Receiver-in-the Ear and Behind-the-Ear Models
Receiver-in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids are a lot alike: the power supply and the rest of the mechanical part of the hearing aid mounts behind the ear. The speaker system goes inside of the ear canal and is connected by a wire to the behind-the-ear part.
Pros: This type of hearing aid is great for all ages, as both the pieces can be replaced on an as-needed basis. For individuals who have moderate to severe hearing loss, RITE and BTE hearing aids are a good fit because they are capable of power amplification.
Cons: Although manufacturers have made RITE and BTE hearing aids a little smaller and are able to make them in colors that better match your hair, they are still among the more visible models.
Open-Fit Hearing Aids
Another type of BTE hearing aid is known as an open-fit model. Open-fit hearing aids, like other BTE models, connect a speaker to a bigger mechanical assembly via a thin tube. The speaker assembly of an open-fit hearing aid is usually quite small allowing the ear to remain unobstructed and open.
Pros: Because your ear will be unobstructed, open-fit hearing aids will allow your voice to sound clear and natural. For individuals whose hearing loss is more pronounced in the higher frequency range but is still pretty good in the lower ranges, open-fit models are a good choice.
Cons: It can sometimes be a little difficult to handle open-fit hearing aids because they are normally made of smaller parts. They're usually less concealed than ITE and ITC models.
