Buying a hearing aid can be a confusing process, what with the different types of hearing aids and a vast number of versions of each type of hearing aid. This article lists some helpful tips and pointers to guide you in choosing a hearing aid that's just right for you.
Examination by a qualified medical professional
If you feel that you are experiencing a loss of hearing, your first step must be to immediately consult a qualified healthcare professional. An ENT doctor diagnoses any ear health problems and an audiologist determines your hearing loss and the correct hearing loss treatment program.
ENT departments are part of any hospital. You can get a recommendation for an audiologist from an ENT doctor or search for hearing clinics in your area.
Hearing exam (audiometry)
An audiogram showing severe loss of hearing in both the left and right ears
An audiologist conducts a hearing exam to determine your degree of loss. Your listening capability is checked via your ability to hear sounds played at different loudness levels.
The audiologist then plots your results on a graph called audiogram and presents it to you while providing an explanation about your hearing thresholds.
If you have hearing loss, the audiologist will counsel you about hearing treatment and recommend hearing aids to compensate for the hearing loss.
An audiogram is essential for correctly measuring and treating hearing loss.
Types of hearing aids
Many different types of hearing aids are available for selection for treating hearing loss. These are:
- Completely in canal (CIC)
- In the canal (ITC)
- Full shell or in the ear (FS or ITE)
- Over the ear or open fit (OTE)
- Behind the ear (BTE)
- Body aid
This section lists the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make the right choice for your ears.
COMPLETELY IN CANAL (CIC)
IN THE CANAL (ITC)
IN THE EAR (ITE)
OVER THE EAR OR OPEN FIT (OTE)
BEHIND THE EAR (BTE)
BODY AID
Selecting a hearing aid
Getting complete information about hearing and understanding your specific hearing requirements will help you select the right hearing aid for you.
Take care of your ears for prolonged hearing health and better quality of life!
Disclaimer: The tips, pointers and information outlined in this article are not a substitute for medical advice/opinion and are not meant to replace such advice. Please consult your healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of any condition.
Quadio provides a range of sophisticated, digital and cost-effective hearing solutions featuring rechargeable batteries, bluetooth compatibility and personalization. See the website pages for Hearing Aids, Do I Have Hearing Loss?, Remote Fitting and Quadio Hearing Clinics for information about our hearing solutions.