If you’ve recently been diagnosed with hearing loss or suspect that hearing loss will be detected at your upcoming audiologist appointment, finding the right hearing aids for your personal requirements is essential.
Before worrying about brands, models, or specific features, you must first determine which type of hearing aids are right for you. Are in-the-ear hearing aids the answer? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids?
When looking at hearing aid types, you will come across several terms. You are probably familiar with traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, which feature an earmold while the main product sits behind the ear. However, ITE hearing aids are worn entirely in the ear.
The most common ITE hearing aids feature a housing that fills the entire ear canal and middle ear. However, several subcategories can fall under the umbrella term of ITE hearing aids, including:
- In-the-canal (ITC) that sits fully in the canal.
- Invisible-in-canal (IIC) that are worn deep in the ear for discretion.
- Completely-in-canal (CIC) is very similar to IIC.
Why ITE hearing aids?
Whichever style of ITE hearing aids you choose; many users prefer them to BTE and other alternatives for a whole host of reasons. Some of the most telling features include:
- They are less visible, which makes users less self-conscious.
- ITE hearing aids are lighter and more comfortable when exercising.
- They are less likely to interfere with headphones or ear defenders.
The primary ITE hearing aids are often deemed the best performing and most comfortable style under the ITE umbrella, although personal preferences may dictate otherwise. Meanwhile, they feature dual microphones, which can give them a stronger sound amplification capability.
Likewise, many of the latest models offer advanced features, such as Bluetooth connections.
Who can use ITE hearing aids?
While the IIC and CIC hearing aids have limited performances, the primary ITE hearing aids are capable of supporting users with mild, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss. When visiting your audiologist for a hearing aids appointment, ITE styles will almost certainly be a possibility.
ITE hearing aids can be a little fiddly compared to BTE hearing devices. So, users with severe dexterity issues or severe sight problems may potentially struggle with them. However, the majority of users will find that they are a good match, even if ITCs are not.
The potential downsides to consider include:
- They need regular cleaning.
- ITEs are prone to feedback.
- ITE hearing aids will break if you’re not careful.
However, for those that want a discrete hearing aid that does not impact their daily work or leisure habits, ITE hearing aids are often a very suitable selection.
Finding the right ITE hearing aids
ITE hearing aids are an increasingly common choice and are a suitable option for new hearing aids users as well as those looking for a more practical solution. However, if you are diagnosed with hearing loss, you must confirm that they are the right solution for you.
Call your local audiologist to book an appointment today. From checking out the different ITE models to booking a fitting, the results will be far better.
