You did it! You met with your Tucson audiologist and had them confirm the cause and extent of your hearing loss, so now what? The next step in your resolution to treat your hearing loss is to determine what type of treatment plan is best for your hearing loss.
While this may seem daunting, that’s what your Tucson audiologist is here for. They will help you break down the different steps that go into determining the best hearing aid for your type and degree of hearing loss.
Choose Your Hearing Aid Style
There are five major hearing aid styles.
Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
- Smallest, least visible style
- Fits inside the ear canal
- Smallest battery, shortest battery life
- No extra features due to size
- Works for those with mild to moderate hearing loss
In-the-canal (ITC)
- Fits half inside the ear canal and half outside
- Slightly larger battery, slightly longer battery life
- Contains a few features
- Works for those with mild to moderate hearing loss
In-the-ear (ITE)
- Fits in the outer portion of the ear with two styles, full shell (most of the outer ear) and half shell (only the lower part of the ear)
- Larger battery, longer battery life
- Contains more features
- Works for those with mild to severe hearing loss
Behind-the-ear (BTE)
- Contains two parts, one that fits behind the ear and one that fits inside the ear canal, connected with a tube
- Largest model
- Largest battery, longest battery life
- Contains the most features
- Works for those with mild to severe hearing loss
Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
- Contains two parts, one that fits behind the ear and one that fits inside the ear canal, connected with a thin wire
- Less visible than the BTE model
- Large battery, long battery life
- Contains the most features
- Works for those with mild to severe hearing loss
Choose Your Additional Features
Functionality is an important consideration. With so many available features, you’ll need to decide which ones matter most to you. Popular features include:
- Directional microphones
- Feedback suppression
- Amplifiers
- Digital noise reduction
- Wax guards
- Automatic volume control
- Bluetooth® connectivity
It is important to note that extra features cost money. Your Tucson audiologist will help you determine which ones would be most helpful for your hearing loss.
The Cost
Hearing aids can range in price from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars apiece. Price will be a factor, but be sure to consider your specific hearing needs when making this decision.
Investing in a cheap hearing aid that is ineffective is a waste of money. On the other side of the coin, you don’t want to overspend on features that won’t benefit you. Your audiologist can offer suggestions that will point you in the right direction.
Once you and your Tucson audiologist have worked together to decide which make and model is right for you, the next phase of the process is to be fitted for your hearing aid. This process will be explained in next week’s blog post!
Want to get started on your own journey toward better hearing? Contact your Tucson audiologist today.