How Can I Make My Hearing Aids More Comfortable?

If you are experiencing hearing loss and need to be fitted for a hearing aid, you will be hearing better in no time. Audiologists have several options on hand to help those with trouble hearing. Each individual is different and not every hearing aid works for every person, so you may get fitted for a hearing aid and quickly find that you are experiencing discomfort.

The first rule of thumb when wearing a hearing aid for the first time is that there is going to be an adjustment period. Before you start to feel as if wearing a hearing aid is not for you, you may simply need to adjust to having a hearing instrument other than your ears.

If after some time you come to learn that the type of hearing aid you are using is not working for your body, there are several options your audiologist can offer you for more comfort. Here are some ways you can make your hearing aid more comfortable.

In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

In-the-ear hearing aids are most likely going to be your first choice. These are traditional hearing aids that sit in the outer bowl of your ear and help sound transmit through the ear canal to your inner ear. The way that ITE hearing aids work is by a special coil that lives within the hearing aid that helps carry sound from outside your body, into your ear, through the hearing aid and to your brain where you can hear what is going on around you.

What makes these more comfortable is that their volume can be adjusted with a remote control and they can be paired with certain electronic devices like tablets, televisions and smartphones. A lot of people find ITE hearing aids to be comfortable because it’s easy to control the volume.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are used by many because there is a feeling of security when wearing them. When the hearing aid is fastened to the ear from behind, it moves less and the chances of it falling out or getting lost are diminished because it is fixed to the ear. All of the mechanisms of the hearing aid are also outside of the ear, so they don’t feel heavy within the ear.

BTE hearing aids are best suited for people who have moderate to severe hearing loss, so if you fall into this category, this may be the most comfortable choice for you. The outside mechanism of the hearing aid houses the amplifier and speech processor that creates acoustic signals from electric signals for hearing. The batteries can either be replaced or you can use rechargeable batteries that you can charge while you sleep.

In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

In-the-canal hearing aids are specially molded to your ear so that the device takes the same shape as your body and they fit more snug and more comfortable for some users. They are used similarly as ITE hearing aids except they are slightly smaller so they don’t fill up the entire ear, just part of the canal.

It should be known that this type of hearing aid is more useful for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss because the smaller the hearing aid, the less powerful it is. Therefore, those who wear ITC hearing aids don’t need a strong hearing aid, so less is more.

Other Options

These three hearing aids are not the only options out there for someone who wants to improve their hearing. Audiologists have several ways to help you hear more clearly.

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) Hearing Aids

Invisible-in-canal hearing aids are best suited for the more active hearing aid wearer. The plus to this model is that no one can tell that you are wearing a hearing aid because it is placed well inside your ear. Because it is placed well within the ear, there is less of a chance of it falling out during activities.

Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids

Completely-in-canal hearing aids are also invisible and of a smaller size. Just like IIC hearing aids, no one can see that you are wearing one and if you are active, there is less of a chance of the hearing aid falling out and getting lost. Also like IIC hearing aids, they are small so they are best suited for those who are experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss.

Contact Salyer Hearing Center today to speak with an audiologist about your hearing improvement options. Call us today at Sylva: 828-586-7474, Franklin: 828-524-5599 and Murphy: 828-835-1014