Important Hearing Aid Terms Defined

Posted by admin in Vintage Amplifier ArticlesNov 5th, 2009 | no responses

You knew who had a hearing loss for quite some time and finally the value to get your hearing checked. They tell you that you need a headset and you can not help but wonder: Why this has to happen to me? Then start counting on the headphones and use tons of terminology that just goes right over his head. They know who is in shock??! How can you make an informed decision about anything when you do not even know what they're talking about!?
There are hundreds of different hearing aids. It can be a very complicated world technilogical terms. Sometimes, those of us who work with hearing aids all the time can forget what may be foreign to you. To make matters worse, manufacturers like to call things different names, so it sounds like something different. No wonder there is so much confusion!
I will try to unravel some of the mystery for you. At this, there are actually only a few terms you need to understand. These features are what really count, and model or style of hearing aids.
There are seven main styles of hearing aids: ITE, Half Shell, ITC, Mini Canal, CIC, BTE, and open ears.
In the ear (ITE) ITE hearing aids are more personalized style of hearing aid, filling the bowl of your ear, and may have more power and features available in the ear hearing aids.
Half SA (Shell) Half Shell is a custom hearing aid that only fills half the plate from his ear. They can have a good amount of power and functions, use a smaller battery, but are more aesthetically pleasing.
In the Canal (ITC) The next size smaller custom ITC hearing aid. More difficult to see that most hearing aids, but also unable to have the same power, or as many features.
Mini Canal (MC) Smaller than the ITC hearing aid, the mini custom channel using a smaller battery and has power even less available. The features may also be more limited.
Completely in the Canal (CIC) The CIC is the smallest custom hearing aid in the ear and very popular due to its aesthetic appeal and ease of use. Usually there are no manual controls in a CCC, use the phone is usually better because they are less likely to whistle. The lack of power is the main reason people can not use this style of hearing aid, through a small ear canal can prevent you from being able to carry one too.
Behind the ear (BTE), a BTE hearing aid sits behind the ear and connects to the ear through a tube attached to a mold. BTE hearing aids have more power and features available.
Open Ear (OE) and Receiver in Canal (RIC) This headset is fairly new BTE style available in recent years and are much smaller than a traditional BTE. They are primarily intended for high frequency hearing loss. The headset connects to the ear by a very thin tube or wire with a small earpiece at the tip. They call because they leave open ear canal blocked ear less than other styles of hearing aids.
Major features:
Directional Microphones - These are available on most BTE, OE, ITE, Half Shell, ITC and styles of hearing aids. They are the best role it can have on your headset to hear in noisy places like restaurants. This means that reducing all sounds behind you so that doesn't in the way of the sounds that are in front of you. Directional microphones can be automatic that the headset automatically decides when to turn on the level once the sound in the room becomes too strong. Some of them also be adaptive, which means you can keep moving sounds or reduce several different sounds at once.
Noise Reduction - Noise reduction does not really reduce the noise, reducing the amplification at frequencies where noise is not talking. If a fan running in the background, the headset does not amplify as much as we speak. When the headset is found in both speech and noise at a frequency, you still get both. More advanced hearing aids to better manage the frequency noise by breaking into smaller pieces.
Reports - There are two types of memory available on a hearing aid, manual and automatic. Many headphones have a button that lets you have different settings (memories) for different situations, such as quiet places, noisy places, and music or telephone. The headset beeps when you press the button to let you know that the memory in use. Advanced Hearing aids may have memories that are automatic. Instead of pressing a button, the headset does it for you! Some hearing aids have a combination of both.
Feedback Cancellation - Comments (or that annoying hiss) is the number one compaint people have about hearing aids. Most hearing aid users experience of votes when put your hand on your ear, or use the phone. Feedback Cancellation establishing the amount of feedback (whistling) is heard.
Bands / Channels - The bands are what we use to adjust the volume on a headset. More bands means more control when programming the hearing aid to your hearing loss.
The channels are used to adjust the hearing aid that keeps the sound from getting too high. Channels also can refer to system noise reduction headphones. To reduce noise, more channels, is definitely better, because the ear piece can break the sound into smaller pieces and isolate the noise of the word.
These are the main things you need to understand about your hearing aid. If you really want the best hearing aid for you I recommend you focus on telling the hearing professional what benefits you want from your headset. Tell them what frustrates you more and give you a better idea of how they can help. Its goal is to help you hear better, and when that happens, everyone wins.

Kelly C. Calkins is a doctor of audiology and owns her own practice in Atlanta, GA. For hearing aids, hearing aid information, or find a professional near you call us today at 877-777-1710 or visit our website at http://www. aidright. com