Acutally, the title should probably be “Hearing Instruments” which includes things such as cochlear implants as well as what we commonly think of as hearing aids. But the title would be too long for the menu bar. So bear with me.
Hearing instruments have one or more microphones to pick up the sound, an amplifier and a loudspeaker which sends the amplified sound into the ear.
Hearing aids can be
- analogue or
- digital
Analogue hearing aids have long been available on the NHS and digital hearing aids are currently being phased in. Depending on the pattern and degree of hearing loss, digital hearing aids can provide superior sound quality.
There are several types of hearing instrument:
- behind the ear (BTE)
- receiver in the ear (RITE)
- in the ear (ITE)
- completely in the canal (CIC)
- bone anchored aids
- body worn aids
- CROS/biCROS aids
- aids incorporated into a set of spectacles,
- middle ear implants and
- cochlear implants.
There is a good article on the different types (as well as a wealth of other information for hard of hearing people) at the RNID website. They also have factsheets about what to expect from hearing aids, adjusting to them and how to get them.
For some fun (and realistic) comments about adapting to hearing aids, see Amanda Kvaslvig’s letter: Follow up of people fitted with hearing aids. BMJ 2002; 325:1304. (You’ll need to complete the free registration from the link there to read the article.)