it seems there’re many types of hearing aids out in the market, which might be confusing for someone to choose their first set. Well, one of the most popular hearing aid types is In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids. This article will introduce the basic knowledge about in-the-ear hearing aids so you will know if it’s the right type of hearing aids for you.
In the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are designed to sit snuggly inside your outer ear, out of the way of glasses, hats, and other headgear. INT hearing aids are usually less visible than other types of ear aids and don’t have any wires or tubes, as all the components are contained within the body of the devices. Some ITE aids may have certain added features installed, such as a telecoil. A telecoil is a small magnetic coil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone. This makes it easier to hear conversations over the telephone. A telecoil also helps people hear in public facilities that have installed special sound systems, called induction loop systems.
Type of In-the-ear Hearing Aids
In-the-ear hearing aids can be catalogued into 2 types by its size and the exact places where the hearing aids sit in your ear.
- Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids
If the hearing aids sit completely in your canal and cannot be seen when you wear them, then you may call them Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids. CIC hearing aids are very discreet, normally they can adjust to different environment sounds automatically, so there’s no need to change their settings during the day.
- In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids
In-the-canal hearing aids sit also in your canal, but they’re slightly bigger than CIC hearing aids. They’re also discreet enough for everyday wear, not easy to be seen. Some ITC hearing aids come with Bluetooth function, with which you can connect the hearing aids wirelessly to your phone, TV or other Bluetooth devices.
Kinds of In-the-ear Hearing Aids
Based on the selling channels, ITE hearing aids can be classified as prescription hearing aids and OTC hearing aids.
- prescription hearing aids
You need to see a doctor or visit a clinic and do a hearing test to get access to prescription hearing aids. The prescription hearing aids will be configured according to your testing results to suit your need. And they must be sent back if something wrong happened.
OTC hearing aids are more popular than prescription hearing aids because they’re easy to access and easy to configure. It’s like buying any gadgets online, you don’t need to do any tests or visit any doctors to get access. OTC hearing aids are pre-assembled and ready to wear. They can also be adjusted on your own to make them suitable for your conditions.
Advantages of In-The-Ear Hearing Aids
- Easy to store and carry.
- Fits most ear canals.
- Digital hearing aid technology.
- Practically invisible to the naked eye.
- Bluetooth technology (if offered).
Disadvantages of In-The-Ear Hearing Aids
- Hard to insert for people with dexterity difficulties.
- Small size makes them easy to lose.
- Won’t fit all ear canals.
- Limited functionality compared to BTE and RIC.