Hearing Aid Style Versus Function

By Kathy Mellott, AuD

Some audiologists work with several manufacturers in order to give patients a variety of hearing aids from which to choose. The styles of hearing aids are relatively uniform across manufacturers behind-the-ear, receiver-in-the-canal, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, completely-in-the-canal and invisible-in-the-canal.

However, hearing aids are also separated by level of sophistication and price.

Premium Like “little computers in your ears.” Premium hearing aids are designed to change per environment. The sounds that hit the microphone are categorized and modified by type of sound. Premium hearing aids can be fully automatic or can be adjusted by the patient, depending upon preference.

Advanced Similar to the premium hearing aids, but the noise suppression is not as strong and the hearing aids are not as variable. Not as many situations are covered as automatic programs, but can be added as accessory programs. These are advanced hearing aids.

Standard Based on the same computer chip as the premium and advanced, but with less automatic function. Think of the standard hearing aids as “stripped down” models of the more sophisticated hearing aids.

Basic Basic hearing aids are still digital and programmable, but are not as automatic, if automatic at all. A button may have to be pushed to change from one program to another. The noise suppression is not as strong. And, the control that the audiologist has over the programming is diminished.

Your audiologist should work to provide the best services for each patient, individually. If the first choice of hearing aid does not work out, it can be exchanged during the trial period for a different level or style. Talk to your audiologist about the hearing aid(s) that will best help your hearing problem.