Guide to Buying a Hearing Aid

Ready to get back to living at full volume? Collingwood Hearing Clinic’s Guide to Buying a Hearing Aid is the perfect place to start your journey to conquering hearing loss.

Understanding
Hearing Loss

Hearing isn’t just about your ears. Hearing is an action performed by the brain. That is why when we test your hearing, we evaluate your hearing ability and how well you understand speech. From our tests, we can determine your type of hearing loss and the best treatment options.

The three types of hearing loss include:

    • Sensorineural: Permanent hearing loss affecting the nerves of the hearing system
    • Conductive: Typically treatable, sound is blocked by damage or an obstruction
  • Mixed: A mix of both damage to nerves and physical components of the ear

While Sensorineural is the most common type of hearing loss, affecting about 95% of people with hearing loss, hearing aids can help with all 3 types of hearing loss.

Benefits of Hearing Aids

Filter out background noises: this helps you hear speech better. Follow conversations, enjoy dinner in social settings, and playing with your grandkids again!

Smaller than ever before: they are comfortable and conspicuous.

Benefits of Hearing Aids

Behind-The-Ear

Behind-The-Ear

A small hearing instrument that fits securely behind the ear. BTE models fit the widest range of hearing losses and are often the only style available to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss.

Receiver-In-The-Canal

Receiver-In-The-Canal

A miniature BTE that can be fit without waiting for a custom earmold. RITE hearing aids are typically the easiest style to get used to for 1st time hearing aid wearers.

Completely-In-The-Canal

Completely-In-The-Canal

This style fits deep in the ear canal and is barely noticeable. CIC’s take advantage of the ear’s natural shape but have very small batteries that last only 3 – 5 days.

In-The-Canal

In-The-Canal

ITC’s fit within the canal portion of the ear and is less visible. It is often a good compromise between the ITE and CIC models.

In-The-Ear

In-The-Ear

ITE’s fit within the outer ear, extending into the ear canal. The ITE accommodates a wider variety of hearing losses and has a larger battery size compared to other models.

Invisible-In-The- Ear (IIC)

Invisible-In-The- Ear (IIC)

The smallest hearing aid on the market.