4 Types of Hearing Aids See more at www.centuryhearingaids.com/2-free-reports
OPEN FIT HEARING AIDS
Open Fit Hearing Aids are a new type of Behind the Ear Hearing Aid. It is also called the mini Behind the Ear aid. It fits behind the ear, but is smaller. A very thin, almost invisible tube is used to connect the aid to the ear canal. Open Fit Hearing Aids have less of a occlusion or "plugged up" sensations in the ear canal, allow for increased comfort, reduce feedback and address cosmetic concerns for many users. Open Fit Hearing Aids are designed to hide behind the outer ear, and have ultra-thin tubing to discreetly route sound into the ear. The tubing connects to a soft tip that sits in the ear canal but doesn’t occlude it. The result is a natural, open feeling as airflow and sound enter the ear naturally around the tip, while amplified sound enters through the tip. This is known as “open fitting” and is recommended for mild to moderate high frequency losses.
IN THE EAR HEARING AIDS
In the Ear Hearing Aids sit in the lower portion of the outer ear bowl, making them comfortable and easy to use. All parts of the hearing aid are contained in a shell that fills in the outer part of the ear. In-the-Ear Hearing Aids are larger than the Completely-In-the-Canal Hearing Aids, and for some people may be easier to handle than smaller aids. These tiny hearing aids are made for people with mild to moderate/severe hearing loss.
BEHIND THE EAR HEARING AIDS
Behind the Ear Hearing Aids are longer in shape, sit behind or on top of the outer ear (following the contour behind the outer ear) and have a tubing that routes sounds down into the ear to an ear tip or earmold in the ear canal. Behind the Ear Hearing Aids can be used with an earmold and come in different colors and style. Most parts are contained in a small plastic case that rests behind the ear; the case is connected to an earmold or an earpiece by a piece of clear tubing. They can generally can house more features, controls, and power than custom models. Also, the Behind the Ear Hearing aids are easy to be cleaned and handled, and are relatively sturdy.
RECEIVER IN THE EAR HEARING AIDS
These aids look very similar to the behind the-ear hearing aid with a unique difference: the speaker and microphone of the hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal, and thin electrical wires replace the acoustic tube of the Open Fit Hearing aid. These aids also offer cosmetic and listening advantages and are typically used for adults.