Hearing is one of the most vital senses available to us, and it’s critical to our quality of life. Hearing aids restore the quality of life lost when our hearing deteriorates.
While many people are reluctant to get a hearing aid because they worry about how it might look or that they don’t want people to know they have hearing loss, a hearing aid can lead to radical life improvements. You no longer have to be anxious about not being able to hear a friend, family member, or coworker during an important conversation, and you can more easily enjoy the entertainment you love. Hearing aids work by magnifying sounds that enter your ear, converting vibrations that your ear picks up into neural signals that get passed along to your brain.
A hearing aid is a life-changing medical device. Today, hearing aids come in a variety of styles that won’t get in your way.
These are some of the styles for hearing aids at Toronto Hearing Consultants, where you can book a hearing aid fitting with an independent audiologist with no connections to any particular manufacturer. Their top concern is making sure you get the right device for your sense of style and your medical needs.
Traditional Hearing Aid Styles
Traditional includes two major styles: behind-the-ear and in-the-ear, although you can also subdivide in-the-ear (ITE) into several different substyles. Let’s take a look at some traditional hearing aid styles.
Behind-the-Ear: Receiver in Canal (RIC)
Receiver in Canal style devices are great for people who want a hearing aid that’s light and discreet and that can handle a range of mild-to-severe hearing loss, making them suitable for the majority of people with hearing loss. The body sits behind the ear and is barely visible, while a thin receiver goes into the ear canal, where it transmits sound.
Behind-the-Ear: Traditional (BTE)
The traditional Behind-the-Ear style provides more volume and is suitable for patients who have more significant hearing loss. This style uses an earmold that attaches to the hearing aid with a replaceable tube that should be swapped out every six months by an audiologist. It’s a bit larger but can help with more profound hearing loss. Battery-powered and rechargeable options are available.
Invisible in the Canal (IIC)
IIC is a custom hearing aid style, and it’s the smallest option available. It’s a completely invisible solution, and it works well for patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. They sit deep in the ear canal, and it requires careful fitting to determine the best place for it depending on the patient’s ear canal.
Completely in the Canal (CIC)
This model is a bit larger than the IIC, making it capable of providing a solution for those with more extensive hearing loss while still providing a highly discreet solution.
In the Canal (ITC)
In the Canal hearing aids fill up the outside portion of the ear canal, making them more visible than Invisible in the Canal aids, but better for patients who may have dexterity issues placing and taking out the device. It also has a larger battery and comes in rechargeable models.
In the Ear (ITE)
Of all of the custom hearing aid models that sit within the ear, this one is the largest, and it does not sit deep in the canal. It fills out the entire ear and is considerably more visible, but it does not have a behind-the-ear piece.
Credit: Freepik via Freepik
Modern Hearing Aid Styles
If you’re looking for a hearing aid style with a modern flair, these are some of the styles worth checking out.
Styletto Hearing Aids
These hearing aids are great for people who want a sleek, modern look for their hearing aid and aren’t worried about showing off their device. They’re suitable for mild to severe hearing loss, and come in a variety of trendy colors, including white, black, black and silver, rose gold and white, and cosmic blue and rose gold. These hearing aids have a much more modern sensibility, and they come with iPhone compatibility.
Active Pro Hearing Aids
The Active Pro model combines style with ease, offering a rechargeable model that lasts up to 26 hours and a pocket charger. There are no earmold impressions, seamless compatibility with Bluetooth streaming, and they’re very comfortable to wear. They also come with stylish color options like white and rose gold or silver and black.
Silk Hearing Aids
Silk is quite similar to the Completely in the Canal hearing aid but doesn’t require an earmold impression. It provides a close, comfortable fit in the ear canal, and it’s exceptionally discreet.
Hearing aids have come a long way from what you might be expecting. Book a hearing aid fitting with an independent audiologist to discuss all of the options available to you.