Hearing aids
The purpose of a hearing aid is to amplify sounds in a way that will enable a hearing impaired person to utilise his or her hearing in an effective manner.
Today there is a wide range of hearing aids available to achieve this goal, from small hidden aids which sit deep in the ear canal and to ones that fit snugly behind the ear and send sound to the ear via a tube and ear mould. Equally there is a wide range of technologies to try to achieve the needs and expectations of the individual.
A hearing aid consists of a microphone that turns the sound into an electrical impulse, an amplifier that increases the amplitude of the signal, a battery that supplies the power, and a receiver or loudspeaker that turns the electrical signal back into sound.
Hearing aids are described as analogue or digital, depending on the technology they use to process sound.
Digital hearing aids are now superseding the analogue type, and are the only ones we use; they are available in several different designs, and there are some exciting new developments in hearing aid technology.
 Completely in the Canal (CIC)
hearing aids are the smallest
type available and are virtually invisible when worn.
 In the Canal (ITC) hearing aids
are a little bigger than CIC aids,
but are small enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal.
 In the Ear (ITE) hearing aids are larger than the previous two types, but can accommodate more features and made to fit in the external ear.
 Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids are of a very robust design, and can provide more amplification than the smaller types. Fits snugly behind the ear and are attached to a custom ear piece.
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