Choosing the Right Hearing Aid: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Choosing the right hearing aid is crucial for clear and effective communication, but how do you know which one is best? Well, that answer will vary based on your lifestyle, budget, and specific nature of your hearing loss.

Fortunately, our experts at the Hearing Associates of Las Vegas are breaking down exactly how you can find the best hearing aid for your specific situation.

The Different Types of Hearing Aids

Before you can select your hearing aid, it’s important to understand which type is most suitable for your budget, preferences, and most importantly, hearing ability. The following types are most common, providing a diverse range of sizes, style and function:

• Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
• In-the-Ear (ITE)
• Completely-In-Canal (CIC)
• In-the-Canal (ITC) 
• Receiver-In-the-Ear (RITE)

Behind-the-Ear (BTE)

The BTE hearing aid is the largest of the following types, housing the main components behind the ear. The size is often seen as a drawback, but the additional features, stronger amplification and longer battery life tends to outweigh this concern in many users. This design is particularly effective for those with severe hearing loss due to the stronger amplifiers and processing technology.

In-the-Ear (ITE)

The ITE hearing aid is fitted to the inner ear, making it smaller than the BTE designs, but larger than those that fit in your ear canal. ITE hearing aids are a great choice for those with mild to severe hearing loss as it holds many of the same features as the BTE design, with slightly less visibility.

Completely-In-Canal (CIC)

The CIC hearing aid is the smallest and most concealed design, molded to fit the inside of your ear canal. This design is ideal for mild to moderate hearing loss, but the small size has some downfalls. Due to the small design, the batteries must be replaced often and it often lacks additional features like volume or microphone control. While the lack of visibility is often tempting, it’s important to consider these drawbacks when determining the best hearing aid.

In-the-Canal (ITC) 

The ITC is also molded to your ear canal, fitting partially in your ear. This type of hearing aid is slightly larger than the CIC, making it easier to use for individuals with dexterity issues. The larger size also allows for more features and a longer battery life, providing a good balance between discretion and functionality.

Receiver-In-the-Ear (RITE)

RITE hearing aids combine the benefits of both the BTE design and ITC designs. In this design, the reciever is placed in the ear canal with a thin wire connecting to the main component behind the ear. This combination of designs allow for the powerful amplification and processing power of BTE hearing aids, paired with the discretion of ITC models.

Each of these styles is designed for various budgets, preferences, and hearing abilities. For our full list of hearing aid styles, check out this article.

The Steps to Buying the Right Aids

Now that you understand some of the most common designs, it’s time to determine which is best for you. To simplify this process, our hearing associates are breaking down three steps to narrow down your ideal hearing aid. Each step outlines a key consideration in the process of choosing the right hearing aid:

1. Assess your Hearing Loss
2. Considering your Lifestyle 
3. Meeting Comfort & Dexterity Needs

1. Assess your Hearing Loss

Before considering any other factors, you must determine which hearing aid are applicable to your specific case. To do this, contact a hearing specialist for a comprehensive hearing assessment. 

Different types of hearing loss require different amplification levels and features, so it’s important to identify your severity before moving forward. For example, CIC or ITC designs often suffice for mild to moderate hearing loss, but larger models, like the BTE or ITE aids often benefit those with more severe hearing loss.

2. Considering your Lifestyle 

Once you’ve narrowed it down based on your hearing loss, it’s time to consider your daily activities. If you lead an active lifestyle, requiring more features, you might prefer the RITE model for a blend of discretion and functionality.

However, if you live a quiet or sedentary lifestyle, which doesn’t require the same amplification or processing technology, CIC or ITC are often a top choice due to the lack of visibility. 

3. Meeting Comfort & Dexterity Needs

At this point, you’ve likely identified one or two styles that fit your hearing loss and lifestyle needs. However, it’s also important to consider your comfort and dexterity. As we age, our fingers become less agile, making some designs difficult to use. 

If handling small objects is difficult for you, the larger BTE or ITE designs might be ideal as they are easier to insert, remove and maintain. On the other hand, if you are more comfortable with smaller designs, you might opt for the CIC or ITC designs.

Getting the Hearing Help You Need

With these factors in mind, it’s time to determine which one is best for you. On a blank sheet of paper, write down each of the designs shared above. Then, go through our 3-step checklist above to narrow down which design will be most effective.

If you’re still struggling to find the right hearing aid for you, get in touch with our experts at the Hearing Associates of Las Vegas to determine the next best step in your journey to clear communication. Our specialists have years of experience in diagnosing and treating a variety of hearing disabilities, committed to improving your quality of life. Give us a call at 702-857-8188 or visit our contact page to get started on your journey to clear communication.