Do you want to know how to put in hearing aids? Well, in this video I’ll show you
how to insert four popular types of hearing aids. Coming up!
Hi, I’m Dr. Derek, audiologist with Pro Fit Hearing.com bringing you the best insight
into today’s latest hearing aids and audio technology to improve your life. If you
have concerns about your hearing, always consult with your local physician or audiologist.
Welcome to Question of the Day, Friday where I answer your hearing healthcare and audio
technology question.
Today, I’m talking about how to put in hearing aids. Did you just get new hearing aids
and have a hard time inserting them? Or are you just curious to see how hearing aids look
in your ear? Well today, I’m gonna show you how to insert four popular types of hearing aids.
Let’s start with hearing aids that sit inside your ear. All hearing aids that sit inside
the ear canal are custom molded to the ear. An ear impression is taken by your audiologist
which is then sent into the hearing aid manufacturer. All of the hearing aid components are then
fit inside the custom casing.
The smallest hearing aid in my collection is the CIC. CIC stands for completely-in-canal.
This one is red to show me that it’s made or the right ear. If it was for the left
ear, it would have a blue casing. It uses a small battery, size 10. Once you're sure
you have the correct hearing aid for the correct ear, look for the removal line or vent on
the bottom of the hearing aid. You should hold the hearing aid so that the removal line
and vent is on the bottom. Then you can insert the hearing aid into your ear. Just
press gently with your thumb to insert the hearing aid into your ear canal.
Next, we have the ITC hearing aid. ITC stands for in-the-canal.
It's a bit bigger than
the CIC and it uses a size 312 battery. ITCs may have a small red or blue dot on the casing
to indicate which ear is which. Remember red is for right ear and blue is for left ear. Same as
before, you want to look for the vent or removal string if you have it and hold the hearing aid so
that it's toward the bottom. Then, you can insert the hearing aid gently by pressing it in
with your thumb.
The last in-the-ear style hearing aid is the ITE. ITE stands for in-the-ear.
ITE hearing aids use a size 13 battery.
Just as with the CIC and ITC styles, look for the vent or removal line if it has one and place that
toward the bottom of your ear before gently inserting the hearing aid with your thumb.
The last hearing aid I have today is a behind-the-ear or BTE style. Specifically, this type of BTE is
called a RIC or receiver-in-canal. It has a thin tube with a wire that leads to a speaker
inside the ear, and it often uses a small plastic eartip on the end. You may also see a small,
custom earmold of this type of hearing aid. A regular BTE hearing
aid uses a thicker tubing to send sound down into the ear, and it uses a larger custom
earmold.
With this style hearing aid, I normally place the piece behind my ear first and then insert
the ear tip into the ear. Some of these hearing aids may also have a small retention
wire that curls up into the ear to keep the hearing aid in place.
As you can see, this style of RIC hearing aid can easily be trialed in a clinical setting
since it does not require a custom earmold unless your hearing loss is more significant. Ask
your audiologist if this style is appropriate for your hearing loss and whether it can be
demoed in the office after your hearing test.
So for today’s question, which one of these hearing aid styles appeal to you the most?
I’d love to know your thoughts, so please comment below. Do you have a question you’d
like answered on Question of the Day, Friday? Let’s connect in the comments below.
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If you are interested in hearing aids, click on the link in description below for my FREE
ebook, “How To Buy Hearing Aids”. Know what to ask your audiologist or hearing aid
dispenser so that your hearing aids are easy to use and have all the features you’re
looking for.
Remember, Pro Fit Hearing brings you the best insight into today’s latest hearing aids
and audio technology to improve your life. If you have concerns about your hearing, always
consult with your local physician or audiologist. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you in
the next video.