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STYLES

Hearing instruments (hearing aids) take in the surrounding sounds and amplify appropriate regions of speech to improve clarity and ease of communication. Hearing instruments usually present in the form of a small plastic-covered electronic device that sits in or behind the ear. Recent improvements in hearing aid technology have meant that a very wide range of hearing losses can be successfully fitted by cosmetically appealing hearing instruments...

RITE Hearing Instruments

At a first glance, Receiver in the ear technology aka RITE aids are similar to the open fit and BTE aids, albeit MUCH smaller. There is however one crucial difference: The speaker ('receiver') of the hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal of the user and thin electrical wire replaces the acoustic tube of the BTE/open fit aid. For the majority of people this is by far of the most cosmetically acceptable hearing device types. RITE devices are suited to "open fit" technology (see below) or conventional fitting for large losses.

Open Fit Hearing Instruments

This type of aid can now be successfully fitted to a wide range of hearing losses. It consists of a thin plastic tubing (sometimes known as capillary tubing) most frequently used with a soft dome for comfortable fit inside the ear canal. A small plastic casing is attached to a capillary tube and is discretely placed behind the ear. This style is designed for longevity and maximum user comfort. This style is by far the most preferred by cosmetic-conscious hearing instrument wearers.

Behind the Ear Hearing Instruments

This type of aid can be successfully fitted to a very wide range of hearing losses. It consists of an ear piece that fits into the ear and is connected via acrylic tubing to a small plastic casing containing the electronic components. The casing sits behind the ear. Modern technology allows behind the ear hearing aids to be less visible and more comfortable.

Completely In the Canal Hearing Instruments

This is the smallest type of hearing aids available today. This aid sits deeply in the ear canal. If you are concerned about the way hearing aids look this is the style for you. Please note that this style may not be adequate for large losses.

In the Canal Hearing Instruments

This is a smaller version of the In-the-Ear hearing aid. This aid sits in the ear canal and may extend partly into the outer ear. Comparatively small and easy to manipulate, although much smaller sizes exist.

In the Ear Hearing Instruments

This aid consists of a hard plastic shell that contains all the electronic components. It predominantly sits in the ear canal, but does extend into the outer ear. These aids are not widely chosen due to their size, but are designed for situations where extra power counts (large losses) or for clients who would normally experience difficulties manipulating small hearing aids (eg. patients with arthritis etc.)

If you are not sure which style suits you give us a ring on

(03) 9530 6120 or email us on info@ablehearing.com.au

Consideration Factors

Hearing aids should only be prescribed after a careful selection process which MUST include a full hearing test and an assessment of the person’s ability to follow conversational speech. These services should be provided by a qualified audiologist (hearing specialist).

Degree of Loss
Degree of hearing loss determines power requirements of the hearing aid. Larger losses require more powerful aids.

Ear Anatomy

The space inside our ears varies from person to person. Size of the aid may be determined by the size of the ear canal.

1 or 2?

If you have difficulty hearing with both ears, you will almost certainly benefit from wearing a hearing aid in each ear.

The most important benefits of wearing two hearing aids are:

Your sense of sound direction will improve
It will be easier to understand speech in noisy surroundings
The risk of 'auditory deprivation' is considerably reduced
You will experience a fuller, more comfortable sound picture

Communication needs
Take some time to think about the situations where you would like to improve your hearing. When and where do you need extra help?

Handling the aid

The smaller the instrument, the smaller the controls and batteries. So if your eyes are not what they used to be, or your fingers cannot cope with adjusting small controls, you will find a larger instrument easier to handle.

Cosmetic Appearance Hearing aids are available in a wide variety of sizes and colours to suit your own personal taste. You may want something discreet

The price factor
Better hearing means a better quality of life, so it should be viewed as an investment in yourself and your health. Hearing instruments exist to cater for a variety of budgets and needs.