How Do Custom Hearing Aids Work?
A small, custom-fit electronic device called a hearing aid is used to treat mild to severe hearing loss. Adults are the best candidates for custom hearing aids, which come in a variety of styles and sizes. Children's ear canals frequently change shape, thus they may quickly outgrow their personalised hearing aids.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees custom hearing aids as medical devices. (FDA). Audiologists among other licenced hearing healthcare experts prescribe and deliver these custom-fit devices to eligible patients. They are made specifically for each user with an impression of their earmold to ensure a snug fit.
Custom hearing aids are currently only made by a few manufacturers. However, because of their substantial market share in the hearing aid industry, audiologists are able to offer a wide range of personalised hearing aid models with various features and technology.
Whom Might Custom Hearing Aids Be Most Beneficial To?
Custom hearing aids are best for people with dexterity issues, low-frequency hearing loss, and unusually shaped ears, according to Atlanta and New Orleans audiologist Lana Ford. Even if a person has a slight to severe hearing loss, a personalised hearing aid can assist amplify (but not restore) their listening and communication skills.
Adults who meet the requirements can get bespoke hearing aids; you first need a doctor's okay to buy them. Only after scheduling a consultation with a certified audiologist or hearing instrument specialist are bespoke hearing aids available for purchase. At this moment, there is no over-the-counter option for [custom hearing aids], as every patient is different and needs particular features to meet their lifestyle.
Various styles of individualised hearing aids
A few different personalised hearing aid designs are available. The device's custom design typically derives from the wearer's ear canal mold, which adds to its distinctive fit. Each design specifically accommodates the wearer's ear canal size and shape as well as their aesthetic and covert preferences.
1) In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid:
The largest custom hearing aid design is termed an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid, which fits into the concha bowl of the ear canal. They are intended to address hearing loss ranging from moderate to severe. In the end, those who want a device with room for features like Bluetooth compatibility, rechargeability, and/or a telecoil tend to opt towards ITE hearing aids.
According to The Healthy Hearing , 13% of all hearing aids sold in the United States in 2021 were custom ITE devices.
2) ITC Hearing aids :
Hearing aids that are worn in-the-canal, or ITC, are typically invisible to others around the wearer because they are made to precisely suit the size and form of the ear canal. These tools aid in treating hearing loss that is mild to moderate. Additionally, ITC hearing aids offer greater customisation choices for ear moulds of various sizes.
3) CIC Hearing Aids:
Fully-in-the-Canal (CIC) and Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are designed to fit completely and virtually undetectably inside the ear canal. The best candidates for these devices tend to be adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
The advantages of personalised hearing aids
Have you ever considered getting a hearing aid that is specifically made for you? Here are a few advantages:
1: Wearing a hearing aid in your ear has benefits.
It has been difficult to remove your mask without getting it tangled up in your hearing aids if you have ever used a RIC or BTE hearing aid during this pandemic.
Other benefits of wearing your hearing aid inside your ear as opposed to behind them include:
Less wind noise: If you use BTE or RIC hearing aids and are outside when the wind is blowing, the microphones behind your ears will take up all wind noise. These microphones are placed in your ear by custom hearing aids, where they are effectively shielded from the wind.
Less noise from things behind your ears: If you run your hands through your hair while wearing hearing aids with microphones behind your ears, you will hear the scratching of your hair against the microphones.
2: You almost certainly will have a more comfortable fit.
Custom-fit hearing aids are more comfortable for a number of reasons.
They first fit better. The gaps between the ear canal and the hearing aid are therefore eliminated. Sound can echo and provide feedback when there is a space between the ear canal and the hearing aid. This issue won't arise with a hearing aid that has been specially adjusted because it fits the ear canal exactly.
Second, hearing aids that are specially fitted are less likely to put strain on the ear's outer lining. When you use your gadget for a long time, this pressure might become bothersome and even painful.
3:They might better match your recommended treatment for hearing loss.
They first fit better. The gaps between the ear canal and the hearing aid are therefore eliminated. Sound can echo and provide feedback when there is a space between the ear canal and the hearing aid. This issue won't arise with a hearing aid that has been specially adjusted because it fits the ear canal exactly.
Second, hearing aids that are specially fitted are less likely to put strain on the ear's outer lining. When you use your gadget for a long time, this pressure might become bothersome and even painful.They might better match your recommended treatment for hearing loss.
4: Unique shape and size of an individual's ear.
This means that they provide a more comfortable and secure fit compared to standard hearing aids that come in generic sizes. Custom hearing aids are designed using a mold or impression of the ear, ensuring that they fit snugly and securely in the ear canal. This custom fit also reduces the risk of the hearing aid slipping out of the ear or causing discomfort, making it easier for individuals to wear their hearing aids for longer periods.
It's ideal to keep yourself as educated with your hearing aids and a new breakthrough in the technology. Ask your query via Book an Appointment today. For more information visit https://hearing.careinc.ca or you can call us today at (403)605-6300