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Behind the ear (BTE)
hearing aids
These
hearing aids come in three variations:
1.
Analog
Hearing Aid: Behind the ear model
with a tube that connects to an an ear
mold which sits inside the ear. The
hearing aid rests behind the ear and a
plastic tube connects it to the ear
mold. This is the most common type of
hearing aid and at one time was the only
type you could buy.
Note the
large hearing aid case behind the ear
and the thick tube connecting the case
to the mold in the ear canal.
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Behind The Ear Hearing Aid -
Older Analog Version |
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2.
Digital BTE hearing aid: Behind the
ear with a "fishhook" extension. This
version fits behind and over the
ear. The fishhook part fits over the
front of the ear and points down
towards the ear canal. One end of a tube
is connected to the opening in the
fishhook end the other end connects
through a tube to a mold in the ear
canal.
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Digital Behind the Ear with fish
hook extension |
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3 Digital
Open Fit hearing aid: These hearing
aids are all digital hearing aids and
are about 1/3 the size of the older BTE
hearing aids. They still fit behind the
ear but they are only about 1' long and
about 1/4" wide. These models are
characterized by small size, very light
weight, a thin molded sound tube and a
small bud that has holes in it and fits
in the ear canal.
Purchase a digital open fit hearing aid
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Newer Digital Open Fit Hearing Aid
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In-the-ear (ITE)
and
In-the-canal (ITC) aids
In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids fit
completely in the outer ear and are used
for mild to severe hearing loss. The
case, which holds the components, is
made of hard plastic. ITE aids can
accommodate added technical mechanisms
such as a telecoil, a small magnetic
coil contained in the hearing aid that
improves sound transmission during
telephone calls.
Purchase an In The Ear hearing aid here
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In-The-Ear |
In-The-Canal |
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Completely In The Canal (CIC)
A Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aid is
largely concealed in the ear canal and
is used for mild to moderately severe
hearing loss. Because of their small
size, CIC hearing aids may be difficult
for the user to adjust and remove, and
may not be able to hold additional
devices, such as a telecoil. In the
Canal hearing aids can also be easily
damaged by earwax and ear drainage. They
are not typically recommended for
children.
Although
the advantage of the CIC aid style is
the small size, the disadvantages of
higher cost, and extreme difficulty in
adjusting are often not worth the
effort.
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Completely
in-The Canal |
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