When searching for a hearing aid a loved one or for yourself you’ll encounter a range of designs and shapes, and one of the most common is In-the-Ear (ITE). These tiny devices are made to fit in the lower portion of the outer ear, making them a comfortable choice for listeners with mild to moderate hearing problems.
What follow is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the ITE hearing aid style.
Each in-the-ear hearing aid is custom made for the wearer because it must fit the exact shape of your ear. If you choose to use this type of device, your hearing professional will use a mold to make sure it fits your ear perfectly. By doing so, you will enjoy high quality sound, low feedback, and an extremely comfortable overall experience. All of the hearing aid components fit inside the case. That means that the ITE hearing aid has no external tubes or wires. Overall they are easy to use being very lightweight and comfortable.
The ITE hearing aid style has certain distinct advantages. It tends to be excellent at handling high-frequency sounds (which is the range where many people have the most significant hearing loss). This enhanced ability to collect and focus high-frequency sounds is a result of their location inside rather than behind the outer ear. ITE devices are also recessed far enough into the ear that headsets and telephones can usually be used normally. In-the-ear hearing aids are very small, which offers both advantages and disadvantages.
Small size is good for wearers that wish to disguise their hearing aid. However, this small size also causes a short battery life and keeps them from having all the features found in some other devices. Their small size also keeps people who have poor eyesight or motor control from easily operating the controls and replacing the batteries.
As with all the hearing aid styles available, in-the-ear hearing aid has both advantages and disadvantages. For help choosing the best hearing aid style for your hearing loss and lifestyle give us a call.