Source: Hearing Direct

According to The Canadian Association of the Deaf, one in ten Canadians have some kind of hearing loss. There are many reasons for loss of hearing, some are directly linked with medial conditions such as infections, some are caused due to our lifestyle choices during the years such as loud music and some are age related known as presbycusis. Progressive deterioration of hearing ability (presbycusis) happens as the body ages. The cochlear hair cells (our sensory receptors) may become damaged which results in a high-frequency hearing loss that can start as early as middle age.  

First Step Getting A Diagnosis

If you suspect you might be suffering from a hearing loss, you should get a diagnosis. Your first point of call is to visit your family doctor where a basic hearing test will be performed or you might get referred to a specialist in hearing called an audiologist. Side by side with seeking medial consultation you may want to undertake an online hearing test which is normally quick, free and accurate. The online hearing test is a type of Speech-in-noise check which uses spoken numbers in two different types of background noise.

What Are Hearing Aids

For most people with mild to moderate hearing loss, a device called a digital hearing aid will likely be recommended by your family doctor or the audiologist. Digital hearing aids vary in discreetness levels, size, look and the amount of amplification they produce. They are in fact a type of wearable micro-computers which are either programmable or pre-programmable, can suppress background noise and are very lightweight.

What To Look For?

Often hard of hearing people look at various aspects of the aid. Some are looking for comfort, some are looking for discreteness and others look for a low cost solution. In the past people also used to looked for the lightest aid, but nowadays weight isn't a factor as much as design and discreteness. There are 5 common types of digital hearing aids, which differ from one to the other by how they fit on the wearer's ear.

Hearing Aid Types

Over The Ear Hearing Aid (OTE) - A type of open-fit digital hearing aid which fits over the wearer's ear. Although popular, OTE hearing aids are less discreet compared to other types as its characterized by a small plastic case behind the ear. 


Completely in The Ear Hearing Aid (CIC) - A type of small digital hearing aid which fits right inside the wearer's ear canal and is therefore considered a more discreet hearing aid. Usually you cannot see very much of  the hearing aid when you are face to face with someone, which makes some people refer to it as an invisible hearing aid.


In The Canal Hearing Aid (ITC) - Similar to completely in the ear hearing aid, it is a type of small hearing aid, but not smaller. This means that some of the aid will be visible outside of the wearer's ear. ITC are intended for mild to moderately-severe hearing losses.


In the Ear Hearing Aid (ITE) - A type of digital hearing aid which is slightly on the large side. It fits completely into the wearer's ear and due to its size, might have better amplification characteristics. Some types of ITE devices may include the ability to work with phone amplifiers.Unlike CIC and ITC devices, this type is often visible when standing face to face with someone. 


Behind The Ear Hearing Aid (BTE) - A type of digital hearing aid which is extremely popular among many of the older hard of hearing generation due to its comfort characteristics. One part if the aid resides behind the ear, while the second fits comfortably into the ear through a tube. The components of the aid such as case, tube and earmold are also available in a choice of colors making it a trendy and comfortable aid.


Other types of hearing aids which you may come across include disposable hearing aids and bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA). Disposable hearing aids differ by having a non-replaceable battery, while BAHA can be surgically implanted. However, in mild to moderate hearing loss situation your family doctor (or audiologist) will likely recommend a digital hearing aid.

* How to choose a hearing aid guide contributed by hearing aid sellers Hearing Direct.