Hearing Aids

Hearing aids 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 aid:

• behind the ear (BTE)

• in the ear (ITE)

• in the canal (ITC)

• completely in the canal (CIC)

• bone anchored aids

• aids incorporated into a set of spectacles

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. Click here for pictures and more information about the different types of aids.

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.