What Hearing Aids are Right for Your Personal Needs?

If you are one of the roughly 30-million Americans between 25-75 years of age who experiences hearing loss, you should take time to consider what type of hearing aids are right for your personal needs.

Whether you are a homebody, an active gym member or a retiree taking it easy after a lifetime of hard work, then there is a different type of hearing aid for you. Speaking to an audiologist is an excellent way to get all the information you need when it comes to hearing loss and how to help, but some key considerations may include:

• Size and comfort
• Activities and robustness

The multitude of shapes and sizes of hearing aids means that some are more suitable for various activities than others. Whether it's the size or the place it's worn, there are several things to consider when selecting the right hearing aid for you.

Size and Comfort

While there have been amazing leaps in hearing aid technology over the years, the core concepts remain the same. Many types come in different shapes and sizes that are more suited to different lifestyles, preferences and requirements than others.

There are variations on the types of hearing aids available, but the three main types are:

• In the canal (ITC): Recommended for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the device is inserted directly into the ear canal and is very small.
• In the ear (ITE): Ideal for mild-to-moderately-severe hearing loss, these sit in the outer ear bowl and come in full-and half-shell varieties.
• Behind the ear (BTE): The traditional hearing aid, the larger processing unit sits behind the ear with an extended microphone in the ear. This is suitable for mild-to-profound hearing loss.

Activities and robustness

Each hearing aid type is suited to all kinds of activities, even the larger BTE devices. For relatively gentle movement and walking activities such as yoga, gentle exercise or everyday tasks, a BTE will usually suffice.

The more active person will usually opt for an ITE or ITC device where a more fixed and less susceptible to falling out or exposure to the elements approach is required. However, strong movement can dislodge a well-fixed ITE hearing aid such as boxing, for example, and an ITC device isn't capable of picking up distant sounds well. 

Speaking to an audiologist is a great first step when choosing a suitable hearing aid, but the choice is ultimately up to you. While most people will generally be fine with a BTE device, strenuous activity will require a more suitable ITE or ITC device that is less prone to coming loose. 

Whatever your lifestyle is, and depending on the severity of your hearing loss, your audiologist will be able to assess your individual needs and recommend a plan based on your health, lifestyle, budget and aesthetic preferences.