Comparison of Hearing Aid Styles

Open Fit

b Provides superior sound

b Easy to insert

b Less prone to ‘occlusion effects’. Clients report their own voice quality is much improved from the old ‘occluding’ aids.

b Most are very small and automatic.

b Some can use remote controls to vary the sound.

b Available in a modern colours

b Some can be linked by blue-tooth to mobile phones, Ipods, TV devices and normal phones.

r Not suitable for people with severe hearing loss.

r No controls or exceedingly small controls on the aids so clients may have to use a remote control.

r These aids use small batteries that require changing more frequently than other aids.

b Best aid for severe hearing losses

b  Can be fitted to milder losses

b  Least prone to whistle or feed back.

b  Aid can be automatic 

b The controls are relatively easy to use

b  Generally very robust aids

b  Has longest battery life

r Not suited to clients with small ears particularly if they wear glasses.

b More powerful hearing aid than ITC or CIC.  

b Larger volume control for ITC or CIC

b Other controls can be included on the hearing aid such as programming or telephone switches.

b Less prone to feedback or whistling problems than ITC or CIC.

b Aid can be fitted with totally automatic settings.

b With an autophone or automatic phone listening program, it works well with the telephone.

r Less cosmetically appealing than ITC, CIC or Open Fit.

r  With certain losses, the occlusion effect or loud amplification of the client’s own voice can be annoying for the client  

b More cosmetically appealing than BTE or ITE.

b The aids can be fitted as an automatic device.

b With an autophone or automatic phone listening program, it works well with the telephone

b Can be fitted with a remote control to control the sound.

r More prone to feedback or whistling. 

r The smaller controls are more difficult to use.

r With certain losses, the occlusion effect or very loud amplification of client's own voice can be annoying for the client  

b Cosmetically appealing hearing aid as it is almost invisible to the eye. 

b Excellent for telephone use as there are no switches and the phone sits against the external ear.  

b Several acoustic advantages as the hearing aid uses the ear for enhanced directionality unlike other aids.

r Certain hearing losses and certain ear canal shapes exclude the use of this aid. 

r Battery life is very short

r Some clients are unable to correctly place this very small hearing aid. 

r The hearing aid has no controls.

r The aids have to be fairly tight to decrease the chance of feedback or whistling which can make for an uncomfortable fit.