Types of Hearing Aids
At Denoc Hearing Care Centre in Chennai, we offer a comprehensive range of hearing aids tailored to meet diverse hearing needs and preferences. Our selection includes both analogue and digital devices, each with unique features to enhance your hearing experience.
01 Analogue vs. Digital Hearing Aids
Analogue Hearing Aids: These devices convert acoustic signals into electrical signals to amplify sound.
Digital Hearing Aids: Utilize processors to convert acoustic sounds into digital signals, allowing for precise customization to compensate for specific hearing losses. Brands like Resound, Oticon, and Phonak offer models that can be programmed for various environments, such as reducing loud horn sounds in crowded cities like Chennai. Features include automatic setting adjustments and reduced feedback or whistling noises.
02 Behind the Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
Suitable for all types of hearing loss, BTEs come in various styles and sizes. They often feature multiple directional microphones for improved speech understanding in noisy situations. BTEs can be open-fit or closed-fit, offering more power and easier handling due to their larger size. Most are compatible with assistive listening devices and are suitable for mild to profound hearing loss.
Salient Features:
➤ Easier handling
➤ Volume control
➤ High power
➤ Compatibility with all hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to profound hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ Easier handling
➤ Volume control
➤ High power
➤ Compatibility with all hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to profound hearing loss
03 Invisible In Canal (IIC) Hearing Aids
The IIC is the smallest custom hearing aid available, fitting deeply inside the ear canal and hidden from sight. With the microphone at the ear canal's opening and the receiver further in, this style provides the most natural sound quality.
Salient Features:
➤ 100% invisible when worn
➤ Custom sculpted for your ear canal
➤ High-definition sound quality
➤ Suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ 100% invisible when worn
➤ Custom sculpted for your ear canal
➤ High-definition sound quality
➤ Suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss
04 Completely in the Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids
CIC hearing aids are custom-fit devices that sit inside the ear canal, making them discreet and hardly visible. They offer natural sound clarity due to the microphone's placement at the ear canal's opening. Note: Custom-fit hearing aids are not recommended for patients with periodic ear infections. Denoc has an in-house hearing aid shell manufacturing unit, ensuring precise design and timely delivery.
Salient Features:
➤ Almost invisible when worn
➤ Excellent sound quality
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to most severe hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ Almost invisible when worn
➤ Excellent sound quality
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to most severe hearing loss
05 In The Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids
Custom-made to fit securely and comfortably in the ear, ITCs are larger than CICs and suitable for mild to severe hearing loss. They offer longer battery life and options for volume control and program buttons.
Salient Features:
➤ Easy handling
➤ Longer battery life
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to most severe hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ Easy handling
➤ Longer battery life
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to most severe hearing loss
06 In The Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
ITE hearing aids are larger than ITCs and are recommended for patients with dexterity challenges. These customized devices fit in the outer ear, offering secure and comfortable handling. Their size allows for increased battery power, making them appropriate for mild to profound hearing loss. Additional features include volume control and programming buttons on the outer shell.
Salient Features:
➤ Easy handling
➤ Volume control
➤ Longer battery life
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for moderate to profound hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ Easy handling
➤ Volume control
➤ Longer battery life
➤ Compatibility with some hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for moderate to profound hearing loss
07 Receiver in the Ear (RIE) Hearing Aids
RIE, also known as Receiver in the Canal (RIC), is a next-generation BTE hearing aid. These devices are lighter, smaller, and more discreet. The processor sits behind the ear, connected via a slim tube to the receiver in the ear canal, delivering high-quality sound. This design reduces the occlusion effect and enhances natural sound processing.
Salient Features:
➤ Ultra-small and light
➤ Volume control
➤ Compatibility with all hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to severe hearing loss
Salient Features:
➤ Ultra-small and light
➤ Volume control
➤ Compatibility with all hearing aid accessories
➤ Suitable for mild to severe hearing loss
Frequently asked questions
Analog hearing aids amplify all sounds uniformly, whereas digital hearing aids process sound digitally, offering better clarity, feedback suppression, and environment-specific programming.
Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are the most discreet option, sitting deep in the ear canal and being virtually invisible when worn.
At Denoc, we conduct comprehensive hearing tests to determine the degree of hearing loss and lifestyle needs, helping you choose the most comfortable and effective hearing aid.