Hearing aids are a common tool used to improve hearing. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be inserted into the ear in different ways. This blog post will discuss how to put in hearing aids for the best results.
We will cover various types of hearing aids and how to put them in your ears. Let’s start with the basic information on the different types of hearing aids available.
Types of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be custom-made to fit your ear or pre-made in standard sizes. There are also different types of hearing aids available, depending on the cause of your hearing loss. The following are the types of hearing aids that you can find:
- Behind the ear
- In the ear
- Receiver in canal
- Invisible in canal
BTE
The behind the ear type is the most common type of hearing aid. It consists of a small case that sits behind your ear and is connected to a plastic tube that goes into your ear canal. It comes in various colors to blend in with the skin tone behind your ear.
Different device sizes support various features, controls, battery kinds, and power levels. While many people opt for subtle BTEs that go unnoticed when worn, others are tempted to flaunt their unique patterns.
ITE
The in the ear type is custom-made to fit the shape of your ear. It sits inside the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. You can find it in different colors, such as beige, brown, or black.
RIC
The receiver in canal type is similar to the behind the ear type, but it has a small wire from the hearing aid into your ear canal. This type is less visible than other types of hearing aids. These are used by patients with mild to severe hearing loss.
IIC
The invisible-in-canal type is a custom-made hearing aid that sits in the bottom part of the outer ear bowl, making it pleasant and straightforward to use. They have longer battery life and can incorporate additional capabilities like directional mics for improved understanding and controls like volume controls because they’re slightly larger than their CIC counterparts. They are suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.
Now that we’re familiar with the several types of hearing aids, we shall move on to how to put in hearing aids.
Wearing RIC Devices
Both BTE and RIC are quite similar in how you put them in; follow the below-mentioned steps to insert your hearing aid.
- Take off your glasses, mask, or anything behind your ear.
- Get a hold of the top of your device using your thumb and index finger.
- After holding your device firmly, slide it over your ear and set it behind your ear as you would with your glasses.
- The cable and dome should be dangling from your ear’s front. Grip the dome with your thumb and index finger and push it into your ear canal. Apply gentle pressure on the dome in your canal with your index finger. You should not feel pain when you put your BTE hearing aid in. Get advice from a hearing care specialist.
- When the wire at the top of your ear disappears behind the front of your ear and lies flush against your skull, the dome is properly fitted within your ear.
- It will stick straight over your earlobe if you have modern hearing aids with a stabilizer (a tiny plastic arm linked to the speaker between the dome and the cable). Tuck the wire into the bowl of your ear using your index and thumb. The stabilizer wire will conform to the shape of your ear and naturally tuck within the bowl of your ear with continued wear.
- When you look in the mirror straight on after correctly fitting your RIC aid, you should not be able to see the hearing aid.
Wearing BTE Devices
As mentioned above, RIC and BTE aids are worn similarly, so follow the steps mentioned above to wear your BTE device. When inserting the dome or earmold in your ear, take care not to kink the tube.
Wearing ITE Devices
These custom-made devices sit in the canal, and ear bowl, the method of wearing your ITE device can vary depending upon the manufacturer. Follow the below-mentioned step to get an idea of how to wear an ITE device.
- Hold the hearing aid between your thumb and index finger, hold the hearing aid; remember to ensure the hearing aid’s battery door is facing out.
- In your ear canal, place the canal component of the hearing aid.
- Gently twist the hearing aid until the helix (upper portion) fits snugly in your outer ear.
- The hearing aid should sit firmly in the bowl of your ear once it is correctly in place.
Wearing IIC Devices
Hearing aids that are invisible-in-canal are custom-made and are considered the tiniest hearing aids available. Because they are so little, inserting and removing them requires the use of a removal string. Because your IIC hearing aids are personalized to your canal, how you put them in and take them out may differ somewhat.
Determine which portion of the hearing aid is on top and which part is on the bottom. A dot indicates the top of most models. If there is a vent, it is normally on the bottom and the removal filament.
Hold the removal filament between your thumb and index finger with the top dot on top.
Place the hearing aid in your ear canal, then gently nudge it in with your index finger. Because the hearing aid is tailored to your canal, it should be a breeze to insert. Apply gentle pressure and slide your finger in tiny circles toward the back of your head to assist the hearing aid into position if you encounter any resistance.
It has been correctly installed when the IIC hearing aid is completely undetectable and comfy in your ear. The removal string should be dangling from the top of your canal.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you understand how to put in hearing aids. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with a hearing care professional.