About Hearing Aids 
|
|
 |
BTE (Behind the Ear) |
BTE hearing aids fits behind the ear and has two components - the hearing aid and the ear mold. The hearing aid holds its circuitry in a small curved case that fits behind the ear. It is connected to the ear by a custom made earmold that fits in the person's ear. The earmold is created from an impression taken of the outer ear and the ear canal. The BTE sends its sound to the earmold through a small tube. This type of hearing aid is suitable for all types and degrees of hearing loss and for persons of all ages. BTE hearing aids are very reliable and offer great fitting flexibility.
 |
ITE (In the Ear) |
ITE hearing aids fill the bowl or concha of the ear. It fits within the outer ear and extends into the canal. An impression is taken of the ear and the ITE hearing aid is build into a custom made shell. ITE hearing aids are easy to insert, and do not interfere with eyeglass wearers.
 |
ITC (In the Canal) |
ITC hearing aids fit down into the canal of the ear with a small protrusion into the bowl or concha of the ear. When placed in the ear, the ITC is discreet and not as visible as the ITE hearing aid. An impression is taken of the ear canal and the ITC hearing aid is built into a customer make shell from that impression.
 |
CIC (Completely in the Canal |
CIC hearing aids fits deeply and comfortable into the ear canal away from view and is virtually invisible to others. It fits beyond the opening of the canal and extends deep toward the eardrum. The CIC hearing aid is built into a customer made shell obtained from an impression of the ear canal. CIC hearing aid users are not bothered by wind noise, many users are able to use the telephone without the hearing aid whistling and the wearer's own voice sounds more natural.
The hearing aid circuitry determines how the hearing aid works and refers to the electronics inside the hearing aid. The style of the hearing aid (BTE, ITE, ITC, CIC) determines how the size of the hearing aid and how it looks cosmetically. Many different types of circuitry are available for the same style of hearing aid.
Linear
This is the basis circuits in a hearing aid that makes sound louder. Speech and other sounds are both amplified so this type of circuitry provides good sound quality only in quiet listening conditions. In the presence of loud sounds the hearing aid user needs to adjust or turn the volume down on the hearing aid.
Analog
An analog circuit is one that is not manipulated or processed by a computer. This type of circuitry adjusts the volume control automatically. Instead of just making everything louder as in linear circuitry, the hearing aid chooses and adjusts the volume setting when the sound level exceeds a pre-set level. The parameters of the hearing aid are controlled by fixed or variable components within the hearing aid.
This type of circuitry utilizes both analog and digital technology. At the time of fitting the hearing aid is connected to a computer where the hearing aid is programmed and the settings stored within the hearing aid. The parameters of the hearing aid are manipulated via digital technology but the sound signal itself is processed and amplified as a analog signal. This type of circuitry is available in BTE, ITE, ITC, and CIC styles.
Fully Programmable
This circuit is similar to digital programmable analog except that the sound signal is converted from analog to digital for processing and then back to analog at the speaker or receiver of the hearing aid. Fully programmable hearing aids analyze the sound signal and make response modifications on a situation by situation basis.
