ITE
CIC
CIC devices are so small that are practically invisible from the outside. They can be used only if the auditory canal is sufficiently wide. They are suitable for average hearing loss.
ITC
ITC appliances are just larger than the CIC. They are similarly inserted deep into the channel and are very discreet. ITC appliances are indicated for medium up to severe hearing losses.BTE
BTE devices are available in a wide range of colors: among those, the ones reproducing skin tones are very popular, but it's worth considering hair tone colors, elegantly designed to blend with almost any type of hair.BTE
Common BTE devices are applied just behind the ear. The sound is piped in by a bypass to your ear canal. BTE devices are suitable for all types of hearing loss, also severe deep losses.
RITE
Unlike the BTE, in RITE devices the receiver fits comfortably into the ear canal. This receiver is supported by a soft dome, or a micro support made on purpose. The tube is replaced by a very thin and "invisible" wire.
Digital or analog
The term "digital" has become one of the most used words in everyday language: we think of digital technology applied to mobile phones, music CDs, DVDs, cameras etc., to name but a few examples.It's easy to imagine how, even in the medical sector and in particular in audiology, this type of technology imposed and affirmed itself.
What is the difference?
If you've read a few articles or heard of hearing devices, you probably already know that there are three main types: analog, digital, and digitally programmable. While analog technology is commonly used for sound processing, digital technology is more advanced.
Analog Hearing Aids
They are the "old" conventional devices that operate with a traditional system of signal processing that transforms the sound (mechanical energy) into electricity: the sound input signal captured by the microphone is amplified and returned as output. The result is that the sound (both voice and background noise) are output amplified but identical to the input (background noise is also amplified). Their apparent simplicity is achieved thanks to absolute quality of its components:- Mechanical Components
- Amplifier circuits
Any changes are made through setting current values adjusting trimmer controls.
This technology is available in-ear models (to be placed behind the ear) or ITE (to be inserted completely into the ear canal).
Analog hearing aids for those eligible, are supported by the Italian National Health Service.
Digitally Programmable Hearing Aids
They include analog amplifiers (traditional) controlled by an external digital source (computer) that contains a memory component, where data is processed. These are hearing aids that allow the technician to work on multiple controls that are much more flexible (and hence more adaptable to the needs of the patient), compared with conventional devices.This technology allows us to offer equipment such as:
- Mono/Multi channel
- Mono/Multi memory
- Mono/Multi microphone
Since every listening condition is different, the patient may select different response curves, allowing to optimize listening even in difficult conditions (presence of noise or people talking at once).
Mono / Multi Memory
The technician may change the response curve of the hearing aid on different frequency bands to provide different gains and compression for optimum adaptation.Mono / Multi Microphone
The multi-microphone technology uses two microphones in the same hearing device: the first microphone picks up background sounds (i.e. in a wide angle), the second microphone, even in a noisy environment, focuses on a particular source mitigating environmental noise (operating as a zoom).In this way you may switch electronically between the directional mode (when the two microphones are on), and omnidirectional mode (when the back microphone is turned off).
The trend for the (near) future tends towards digital and digitally programmable hearing substituting traditional devices.
This type of equipment falls under the category of devices partly supported by the National Health Service.
Digital hearing aids
The tremendous advances in electronic technology allowed the construction of small hearing aids, "completely disappearing in the ear", and highly comfortable since it's possible to use small circuit vents for better ventilation of the large ear canal, thus reducing annoying problems of booming noise and Larsen effects. Miniaturization of electronics allows the circuit to perform, in a few millimeters, millions of features, as they are veritable computer aids, offering performances unimaginable just little time ago.Innovation
The latest generation of hearing aids includes a range of advanced digital products, suitable for all types of hearing loss, mild to severe.VoiceFinder is a combined voice detection system that maximizes speech intelligibility when voice is detected in the input signal, and automatically reduces background noise in the absence of voice.
OpenEarAcoustics combines the ability to use significantly larger ventilation systems with elimination of dynamic feedback, to ensure a clear and natural sound quality eliminating at the same time the occlusion and feedback.
Client Focused Fitting provides a customized solution to the auditory problem, which takes into account user's lifestyle and his experience in the use of hearing aids.
Directionality both BTE and ITE are available in directional version, assuring a better speech comprehension even in most adverse listening conditions.
Advantages of digital technology
- Improved communications capabilities in difficult conditions;
- Pleasantness of sound;
- Ease of use as it is completely automatic;
- Excellent aesthetics.
With digital technology sounds become more pleasing and natural as they are broken down and converted into binary code, processed, and returned cleaner: noise is canceled and voice amplified.
The extraordinary flexibility of these devices makes it possible to accurately correct most of the hearing losses.
The application of digital technologies requires a complete and continuous technical training of technical and audiological care personnel, because this type of equipment is constantly evolving, and software programming become increasingly sophisticated. In practice the age of the screwdriver for adjusting the analog hearing aids is almost over, leaving room (with no regrets!) to digital hearing aids.
This type of equipment falls under the category of devices partly supported by the National Health Service.
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