With so many types of hearing aids around, it’s sometimes difficult to know which one you should choose. We’d always recommend booking an appointment with the professionals at Hear Pure and after we’ve checked your hearing for free, we can advise you as to which hearing aid will suit you best.
In the meantime, here is our whistlestop guide to what each type of hearing aid has to offer and which has the best sound quality.
What types of hearing aids are there?
There are many styles of hearing aid and it’s best to always explore your options, so you can confidently choose one that suits you best:
Behind-the-ear
Receiver-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
In-the-canal
In-the-ear
How do hearing aids work?
Before you start exploring the different types of hearing aids on the market, it’s worth knowing how they work. In short, hearing aids work by amplifying certain sounds. This requires:
A microphone that receives the sound
An amplifier that enhances the sound
A receiver, or speaker, that passes the sound into your ear
A processor to optimise the sound for your hearing
A battery to power your hearing aid
It’s worth noting that more modern, digital hearing aids come with two processors, which should, in theory, improve the sound quality. Unlike older analogue hearing aids, digital products are able to customise the amplification stage to suit your hearing, and also filter out loud background noises. Better still, digital hearing aids can actually amplify desired sounds like music or speech, while adapting to the environment you’re in - in fact, some more recent models even allow you to manually switch between settings.
What type of hearing aid has the best sound quality?
If you’re looking for best sound quality, explore these types of hearing aids:
In-the-ear (ITE)
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are customised to the user, filling the entire bowl of your ear.
If you have severe hearing loss, ITE hearing aids can provide a great solution. While they’re not necessarily as discreet as other models, they do provide more amplification power than smaller products.
Behind-the-ear (BTE)
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids involve a plastic tube directly amplifying sound into the ear, connected to a customised ear mould that sits behind the ear.
Due to their bigger size, BTE hearing aids are packed full of more technology, making amplification more powerful. For this reason, BTE hearing aids are another option for those who have moderate to severe hearing loss.
It’s worth noting that as the mould sits behind your ear, BTE hearing aids might not be the best option for those who wear glasses.
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC)
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) are very similar to BTE hearing aids in terms of looks, however, the amplifier of a RIC hearing aid will sit directly in the ear canal - while the amplifier of a BTE is behind the ear, with the sound sent down the tube. For this reason, if you struggle with high-pitched noises or are looking for a model that produces better sound with less feedback, then consider a RIC hearing aid.
Which hearing aid is right for you?
As well as looking at the sound quality, there are so many things you should consider before you decide which hearing aid is right for you. Do you wear glasses? How severe is your hearing loss? Do you feel comfortable handling smaller models? For more information on hearing aids in Chester and the Wirral book an appointment with Hear Pure.