Hearing Aid Styles

My first hearing aid was built into a set of large, black, plastic glasses. I didn't need glasses, but at that time, it was thought that glasses were somewhat less shameful than hearing aids. Kids didn't laugh at glasses; they did laugh at hearing aids.

Today, there are a wide variety of hearing aid styles. All of the ones pictured here are Siemens -- the brand of the old aid that I own. But there are many different brands that offer similar styles.

 
.
Barely noticable, the in-the-ear model has a molded hard case and fits completely in the ear. This kind of aid typically is for mild to moderate hearing loss.

This is the kind of aid that I currently wear.

Limitations: First, the closed case can result in occlusion -- that head in a barrel feeling that hearing aid wearers can experience. Second, it may not be useful for more severe hearing losses. And finally, it is not generally for children because it would have to be refitted as the ear grows.
Completely In The Canal
The smallest type of hearing aid, the completely-in-the-canal aid is custom fit with a mold to the ear canal. The are, for the most part, completely invisible. A colleague of mind wears one and it was more than a month before anyone noticed.

There are two downsides to these. First, because they are so small, they can be difficult to use. And second, they can typically be used for only mild to moderate loss.

Slightly larger is the in-the-canal model.

Neither of these is said to be suitable for children.
In The Canal
In The Ear
For a long time, this was really the only type of aid available. The microphone, processor and amplifier are worn outside the ear, and a earpiece leads to the canal.

Although it is the least cosmetically pleasing of the options, the behind-the-ear option offers a lot of advantages.

First, it is usable for nearly all degrees of hearing loss.

Second, it is, in many cases, the best option for children. The earpiece can be replaced as the child grows at a much smaller cost than replacing an entire in-the-ear hearing aid.

When properly fitted, the earpiece can avoid the occulsion effect. Many models now are designed with a more "open" structure that nearly eliminates this problem.

Another advantage is that it is easy to use. The battery holder is easily accessible, as are the controls
Behind The Ear