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Colorado Springs

Audiology, Inc.

 

Phone  719.520.1155

LOCATION  & DIRECTIONS

 

Dr. Gene McHugh, Audiologist and Owner

Dr. Gene McHugh

Licensed Audiologist

In Colorado

 

 

 

OFFICE HOURS

Mountain Time USA

Mon-Thurs 9:00AM-5:00PM

Closed Fridays

 

COPYRIGHY 2012

 

 

 

 

 

  

HEARING AIDS  

 

Hearing aids come in various styles that are usually broken down into 5 categories: 


  
 

  • Behind-the-ear BTE) - Sound is directed into the ear through a custom-designed earmold 

  • Open fit BTE - Sound is generated in canal using a comfortable receiver in the ear (RITE)

  • In-the-ear (ITE) - Is a one piece hearing aid filling concha bowl.  Also available in half-shell size.

  • In-the-canal (ITC) - Is a one piece shell fitting primarily into the ear canal 

  • Completely-in-canal (CIC) - Is a one piece shell fitting deeper into the ear canal

Open fit BTE - Receiver in Canal (RITE) with clear tube -->

 

Each style has its place and purpose

  • BTE's are commonly used for people with more severe hearing losses including high frequency hearing loss (e.g., noise-induced hearing loss) or with patients needing extremely powerful hearing augmentation.

  • Open fit BTE's are used for people with light to moderate high frequency hearing impairment and have become extremely popular since 2006.

  • ITE's are quite economical and easiest to operate (a good choice for elderly persons with poor dexterity). 

  • ITC's and CIC's are cosmetically less conspicuous, but cannot and should not be fit on everyone (best candidates are persons with relatively "flat" audiograms, active adults under age 85, who have good dexterity).   

What determines the STYLE of hearing aids I should wear?

  •      Physical comfort  Hearing aids should not be painful or uncomfortable in the ear.  They should feel like eyeglasses; that is "barely noticeable."  On occasion, some patients cannot use the smallest style due to persistent ear canal discomfort.

  •      Acoustic improvement potential  Depending upon one's hearing loss, certain types and styles of hearing aids work more effectively. A great deal of training and experience goes into this factor, and most audiologists consider this the one and only factor.  But ALL factors should be considered equally. 

  •      Practicality of the hearing aids selected  Users come in many ages and abilities.  The type of hearing aid selected must be practical based upon each user's unique physical and cognitive abilities - a factor often overlooked.    

  •     Social needs with hearing aids  This assesses the patient's listening needs to help determine what hearing aid arrangement can best augment these needs.

  •     Emotional stage of user  his assesses the patient's level of personal frustration from being hearing impaired along with the frustration of significant others. 

     Most people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. Just as there are different types and degrees of hearing loss, there are different types of instruments. And they offer a wide range of functions and features to address various needs.

Here is a brief summary of the most popular types and styles of hearing aids available today:


Completely-In-the-Canal instruments (CIC)
CICs are so small as to be virtually invisible in the ear. They can only be worn by people whose ear canals are large enough to accommodate them. And the very small battery requires good manual dexterity. CICs are not suitable for severe hearing losses.


In-the-Canal instruments (ITC)
A little bigger than the CIC, ITC instruments also fit far into the ear canal. They use a slightly larger battery than the CIC style. This style is ideal for mild to moderate hearing losses.


In-the-Ear instruments (ITE)
These instruments can be used for a wider range of hearing losses. Due to their larger size, ITEs can accommodate larger sound amplifiers and more features such as a telephone switch. Their size also makes them easier to handle.


Behind-the-Ear instruments (BTE)
BTEs are generally more powerful than smaller devices due to the stronger amplifier and larger battery. They are also very robust – making them perfect for children. And they come in a wide range of hair, skin-tone and fun colours. In BTE instruments the electronics sit behind the ear and the sound is directed through a tube into the ear canal.

              
Receiver-In-The-Ear instruments (RITE)
In RITE instruments the receiver sits comfortably inside the ear canal rather than in the case behind the ear. This receiver is built into a soft and open dome or into a micro mould. RITE technology ensures better sound quality and a high level of comfort.