MANAGEMENT OF HEARING LOSS

BODY WORN AIDS

-first type of hearing aid invented
-rarely used
-consist of a case, an ear mold, and a cord
-the case contains the amplifier components
-size of a pack of playing cards and is worn in the pocket or on a belt
-ear mold is connected to the case via a cord
-provide loud amplification


BEHIND THE EAR AIDS

-BTE aids consist of a case, a tube and an earmold.
-The case is small and made of plastic.
-Generally, the case sits behind the pinna (ear) with the tube coming down the front
into the earmold.
-The case contains the amplification system.
-The sound is routed from the hearing aid case to the earmold via the tube.
-The sound can be routed acoustically or electrically.
-If the sound is routed electrically, the speaker (receiver) is located in the earmold, rather than in the case.
-The earmold is created from an impression taken of the individual's outer ear.
-This usually ensures a comfortable fit and reduces the possibility of feedback. -Earmolds are made from a variety of hard (firm) and soft (pliable) materials.
-BTEs can be used for mild to profound hearing losses.
-More durable-electrical components located outside the ear
-reduces the amount of earwax and moisture that the electrical components are subjected to
-can be connected to assistive listening devices, such as classroom FM systems.
-the earmold can be replaced for a fraction of the price of a new hearing aid


IN THE EAR AIDS

-These devices fit in the outer ear bowl
-custom made to fit each individual's ear
-used in mild to some severe hearing losses
-not been recommended for young children because their fit could not be as easily modified as the earmold for a BTE, and thus the aid had to be replaced frequently as the child grew
-there are new ITEs made from a silicone type material that mitigates the need for costly replacements.


RECEIVER IN THE CANAL/EAR

-similar to the BTE aid.
-one crucial difference: The speaker ('receiver') of the hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal of the user and thin electrical wires replace the acoustic tube of the BTE aid.
-advantages with this approach: Firstly, the sound of the hearing aid is smoother than that of a traditional BTE hearing aid.
-the speaker (receiver) is right in the ear canal and the amplified output of the hearing aid does not need to be pushed through an acoustic tube to get there, and is therefore free of this distortion
-can typically be made with a very small part behind-the-ear and the wire connecting the hearing aid and the speaker (receiver) is extremely inconspicuous
-suited to "open fit" technology (see below) so they can be fitted without plugging up the ear, offering relief from occlusion

IN THE CANAL, MINI CANAL, COMPLETELY IN THE CANCAL AIDS

-smaller, filling only the bottom half of the external ear
-not obvious
- MIC and CIC aids are often not visible unless you look directly into the wearer's ear
-intended for mild to moderately-severe losses
-CICs are usually not recommended for people with good low frequency hearing, as the occlusion effect is much more perceivable


INVISIBLE IN CANAL HEARING AIDS

-not visible when worn ~fits deeper in the canal than other types, so that it is out of view even when looking directly in to the ear bowl
-A comfortable fit is achieved~the shell of the aid is custom-made to an individual ear canal after taking a mould of the patient’s ear.
-use venting and their deep placement in the ear canal to give a more natural experience of hearing.
-Unlike other hearing aid types, with the IIC aid the majority of the ear is not blocked (occluded) by a large plastic shell.
-This means that sound can be collected more naturally by the shape of the ear, and can travel down in to the ear canal as it would with unassisted hearing
-some allow the wearer to use their mobile phone as a remote control to alter settings.


DISPOSABLE HEARING AIDS

-Disposable hearing aids are hearing aids that have a non-replaceable battery
-use power sparingly, so that the battery lasts longer than batteries used in traditional hearing aids
-Disposable hearing aids are meant to remove the task of battery replacement and other maintenance chores (adjustment or cleanings)


BONE ANCHORED HEARING AIDS

-surgically implanted. The BAHA uses the skull as a pathway for sound to travel to the inner ear.
-For people with conductive hearing loss, the BAHA bypasses the external auditory canal and middle ear, stimulating the functioning cochlea.
-For people with unilateral hearing loss, the BAHA uses the skull to conduct the sound from the deaf side to the side with the functioning cochlea.


EYEGLASS AIDS

-built into the temple pieces of the spectacles
-However, the combination of glasses and hearing aids was inflexible: the range of frame styles was limited, and the user had to wear both hearing aids and glasses at once or wear neither