Today’s hearing aids are far more sophisticated than when they were limited to adults experiencing hearing loss. That’s because there’s a growing number of children and young adults who require them. Here, we’ll explore the intersection between health, technology, and hearing aid features. Hearing health professionals recommend the following:
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
- In-the-canal (ITC), hearing aids
Let’s get down to understanding when to consider upgrading your hearing aids.
Age Of The Hearing Aids
The average lifespan of your hearing aid is between three and seven years. Like all technologies, they deteriorate with time, and new technologies emerge with better implementations. The consideration of when to upgrade your hearing aid depends on the design and your level of maintenance. The signs of a deteriorating hearing aid include high wind and background noise and general wear and tear from sweat and earwax.
Changes In Hearing
A hearing health professional knows that our hearing conditions change as we grow old. Children using BTEs require changing the earmold as the ear grows to ensure that the hearing aid fits perfectly.
Older adults experiencing hearing loss know that it is a degenerative condition. You are required to visit a hearing specialist to get readjustments to ensure your hearing quality and communication are not affected. Sometimes, a hearing care provider identifies that an individual exceeds the limits of specific devices and has to recommend more powerful hearing aids to complement these needs.
Lifestyle Changes
You may want to consider changing your hearing aids if you experience a lifestyle change. The new needs include volume control, wireless connectivity, and better noise handling. You may wish for a hearing aid that can withstand rough environmental conditions such as hiking or working out to better filter the noise. An improved financial situation can allow you to afford more advanced hearing aid options.
ITE Hearing Aids
An In-the-ear hearing aid is made of a shell containing the aid parts, and you insert it into your ear. ITEs are usually custom-made to ensure they fit in your ears, making them comfortable to wear.ITEs have two designs. You can choose to have one designed for the entire bowl area of your outer year or one that only fills half of the lower bowl area.
ITEs are recommended by hearing health professionals if you experience mild-to-severe hearing loss and have two earphones for improved functionality such as volume control, longer battery life, telecoils, and multiple directional microphones.
BTE Hearing Aids
Behind-the-ear hearing aids are hooked on top of the ear and rest behind your ear. You get a tube connecting the hearing aid to your ear canal called an earmold. The earmold is changeable without purchasing a new hearing aid. It is applicable for children as the earmold can be easily changed as the child grows.
You can change the hearing aid that rests behind the ear to any color that suits your skin tone or fashion choices. The advantage of this hearing aid is that you get better sound amplification than other hearing aids, and some are available with a rechargeable battery. This technology is ideal for individuals with mild-to-profound hearing loss.
ITC Hearing Aids
In-the-canal hearing aids are designed using a plastic shell that is custom made to fit inside your ear canal. ITCs are used to improve mild-to-moderate hearing loss experiences in adults. The advantage you get from ITCs is that you are less likely to experience wind noise and wireless connectivity to additional accessories to ensure you get the best sound quality. However, they are small, meaning you get a smaller battery life and a minimalist design free from extra features such as volume control.
Before considering upgrading your hearing aids, it is advisable to consult a hearing health professional to help you choose an appropriate hearing aid. The hearing specialist will help you adjust the hearing aid to your needs and ensure you are comfortable with your ability to hear and communicate.