On the hunt for a hearing aid? Finding the right type and style for you depends on your degree of hearing loss, your lifestyle preferences, and cosmetic concerns. Work with an audiologist to figure out which kind of hearing aid will work best for you, as well as any special features you need.

What is a hearing aid?

A hearing aid is a small electronic device that sits either behind or inside the ear. It amplifies sounds so that the hair cells are triggered more effectively, making hearing easier.

A hearing aid consists of three parts:

• a microphone
• an amplifier
• a speaker

The hearing aid receives the sound through the microphone, transfers it to the amplifier to increase the volume, and sends it through the ear canal using the speaker.

What are the different Hearing aid types?

There are two main styles of hearing aids. They differ depending on how much of the hearing aid sits within the ear or ear canal and how much is external.

Behind-the-ear Hearing Aids

The microphone and speaker sit in the ear-piece, either a custom mold or a dome. Sound travels from the microphone to the electronics and back to the speaker in the earpiece and into the ear. BTE hearing aids are suitable for people of all ages with mild or profound hearing loss.

In-the-ear Hearing Aids

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids sit completely inside the outer ear, without anything sitting behind the ear. All the electronics are in a small case inside the external part of the ear. ITE hearing aids are suitable for people with mild to severe hearing loss. However, they are unsuitable for young children because the molds need replacing as the ear grows.

How to choose

Choosing a hearing aid will depend on the severity of a person’s hearing loss, but most aids will suit most types of hearing loss. An audiologist can advise someone on where to get the right hearing aid for their needs. Contact us today to set up an appointment at one of our seven Long Island locations to get some peace of mind about your hearing.