Hearing impairment or deafness is mainly categorized into three types neural/sensor neural, conductive, or a combination of both. According to NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), around 17% of Americans (around 36 million) are suffering from some degree of hearing impairment.
Many of these people can use hearing aids to help them from hearing impairment. However, they must consult their ENT physician and get his approval in order to use one. Hearing aid solution differs based on the type of hearing impairment. But all of these designs have similar components like a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and batteries.
Hearing aids differ in styles too. Based on the usage and appearance, hearing aids are categorized as BTE hearing aids, ITE hearing aids, ITC hearing aids and CIC hearing aids.
Many of these people can use hearing aids to help them from hearing impairment. However, they must consult their ENT physician and get his approval in order to use one. Hearing aid solution differs based on the type of hearing impairment. But all of these designs have similar components like a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and batteries.
Hearing aids differ in styles too. Based on the usage and appearance, hearing aids are categorized as BTE hearing aids, ITE hearing aids, ITC hearing aids and CIC hearing aids.
- BTE or Behind-the-ear hearing aids come in small plastic cases that rest behind the ear.
- ITE or Inside-the-ear hearing aids come in shell like containers that fill the entire bowl of the ear.
- ITC or Inside-the-canal hearing aids fit completely or partly into the hearing canal.
- CIC or Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are least visible hearing aids.
