Dr. Kathryn McGee and Dr. Kelly Long at Carolina Hearing Institute in Lugoff, Sumter, and Columbia, SC, can answer your questions about the main types of hearing aids and help you choose the one that gets you back into the conversation with confidence.
Main Types of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs. Although they share similar components such as a sound amplifier or microphone, they differ depending on a person's level of hearing loss and the technology needed to amplify their hearing. Today, hearing aids are complete with the latest technology, and Dr. Kathryn McGee and Dr. Kelly Long are ready to help you pick one from our wide selection of listening aids.
Behind-The-Ear Aids
Many people are familiar with behind-the-ear hearing aids. These aids are versatile because they fit different earmolds. Sturdy and easy to handle, most of the components fit in a plastic case that rests behind the ears.
Mini behind-the-ear aids are gaining in popularity among the hearing impaired. Since they are smaller, they fit comfortably behind a person's ear, and a nearly invisible plastic tube connects the aid to the ear canal.
In-The-Ear Aids
An in-the-ear aid fits completely inside a person's earlobe and works well for people with minor to severe loss of hearing. The aid's narrow tube comfortably fits inside the ear canal while simultaneously keeping the canal open. Keeping the canal open dramatically reduces ear wax build-up.
In-The-Canal Aids
These hearing aids fit partially or completely inside the ear canal. Most of these listening devices can be custom-made to fit a person's ear canal shape and size However, some people find them difficult to handle because they're smaller than traditional aids.
Analog vs. Digital Hearing Aids
Analog and digital aids refer to the type of electronics used to help amplify hearing. Analog hearing devices enhance continuous sound waves, which then amplifies speech and noise. You can program most analog hearing aids to match specific listening environments like a quiet library or a loud concert.
Digital aids feature all the same listening enhancements as analog devices, but they allow for more complex processing of sound waves by changing them to digital signals. Digital aids improve a person's listening experience by reducing background noises like whistling, and versatile programming functions can match most levels of hearing loss.
Which Aid Should I Choose for My Level of Hearing Loss?
When you schedule an appointment with the Carolina Hearing Institute in Lugoff, Sumter, and Columbia, SC, Dr. Kathryn McGee or Dr. Kelly Long will assess your level of hearing loss and help you choose a hearing aid that matches your listening needs.