For a person who is hearing impaired there are so many choices if they are going to get a hearing device. You can get aids that just go in the ear or ones that fit inside the ear canal completely. One would expect these types to be the most popular for cosmetic reasons. Today the most common of hearing aids to be used are behind the ear hearing aids.
These hearing aids are made up of an ear mould designed to fit in a person’s ear which is connected to a piece of tubing onto the hearing aid. The tube is known as the tone hook. The hearing aid will have a control for on and off, a control for volume and the battery compartment. The microphone is situated at the top of the hearing aid. Sound reaches the ear by the tubing, through the ear mould that is in the ear.
In general, children who are fitted with a device for their hearing loss are given behind the ear hearing aids. The reason behind this is that they tend to be much more robust than other kinds. They are easy enough for a child to learn to put an aid in and operate it, with the large controls that they can handle.
Children encounter a few difficulties with behind the ear hearing aids, which are usually minor. As they grow, so will the size of the ear canal and the shape, so they may require a refit twice a year. This can also happen with other styles of hearing aids. A child may have trouble remembering where their behind the ear hearing aid is as it is small when they have removed them, and other types could pose even more problems. With children, some do not have ears that are large enough for a behind the ear hearing aid. They need to be fitted correctly which sometimes helps, but if not a device known as a “Huggy” is available so the aid can be fitted to the head so that it is more secure.
As behind the ear hearing aids are a little larger than other devices which are usually worn in the ear, bigger batteries can be used. This gives more power and increased amplification. For any person that uses a hearing aid, this proves very useful if you have a mild hearing loss to someone who has a more profound hearing loss. If a person has problems with the use of their hands and fingers due to a condition like arthritis behind the ear hearing aids are easier for them to handle with the larger controls. They can have circuitry which is either analogue or the the advanced digital technological ones.
Behind the ear hearing aids are powerful, strong and easy to use. For a child they are the ideal choice for many reasons. They come in many styles and colours to give variety. As they now come in digital is it any wonder that they have become very popular as the most used hearing aid today.