An ITE or ‘in the ear’ hearing aid is used by people who have hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe. Hearing aids do not compensate for the loss of hearing but can help a person in hearing the sounds which he might not be able to hear otherwise. Once a person decides to buy one, many questions will arise in his mind. First of all, there are many types of hearing aids available, such as ITE—in the ear hearing aid, CIC—completely in-canal hearing aid and IIC—invisible in-canal hearing aid. Generally, the ITE hearing aids can be used for all types of hearing loss.
Basic function of hearing aids
Hearing aids cannot be used as replacements to normal hearing. Almost all hearing aids have the same basic function and parts. All of them are battery powered and are digital. The ITE hearing aid consists of a small microphone which picks up the sounds. An amplifier increases those sounds based on the needs of the patient. The signals which are amplified are converted from the digital code to the sounds again which is then received by the ears.
Finding out the reason for hearing loss
Before buying an ITE or any other hearing aid, it is important to find out certain things. You must go to a reputed doctor and ascertain the right cause of hearing loss. Sometimes, the hearing may get suppressed due to infection or accumulation of ear wax. Both these causes can be easily treated and do not cause hearing loss permanently. In case you are experiencing discomfort due to reasons other than those stated above, you may need to see an audiologist, who can confirm your hearing loss and suggest the right type of hearing aid. Generally, mild hearing losses can be best dealt with ITE hearing aids which are hidden in the ear canal.
Things to be considered before buying a hearing aid
A person can take some time to get used to a hearing aid. Also, for many people they may not be correctly fitted initially. Therefore, it is important to use a hearing aid for a trial period to decide whether it is right for you. Before buying one, ask the seller about the refund and return policy of the product. Hearing may get worse after some time. Therefore it is important that it has the capacity to be used further. You should not get distracted by claims made by some companies that promote their product as a complete solution for the problem. These aids cannot restore complete hearing. If you are thinking of buying ITE in Toronto, please visit us and we can help you find the perfect hearing aid that will suit you and last for a long time.
