Hearing Aid styles and types

Hearing Aid Styles

There are many types of hearing aids available for individuals experiencing variations of hearing loss. This allows us to provide you with a hearing aid that is customisable to your hearing needs and individual preferences.

The difference between analog and digital hearing aids:

Analog and digital hearing aids work in different ways. As hearing aid technology evolves, more hearing aids are becoming digital.
Analog hearing aids gather all sound from your environment, like conversation and background noise, and amplifies the volume of this sound equally. These devices are unable to isolate and reduce background noise. Digital hearing aids transform natural sound into digital codes, allowing the device to amplify important sounds and reduce background noise. Using advanced technology, these hearing aids are highly customisable and offer a variety of features including bluetooth connectivity and rechargeability. At Magpie, our digital hearing aids will help you make sense of the sounds around you, so that you can experience and enjoy hearing to your fullest potential.

Types of Hearing Aids

We bring you the most sophisticated technology in a range of hearing solutions with price options to fit your budget.

In the ear canal (ITC/CIC):

Comfortable and small

Experience all the emotions of sound with a range of different in-the-ear hearing aids. Find out how you can benefit from an enhanced listening experience using the latest innovative technology. This can be completely customisable to your individual hearing needs giving you full connectivity to what’s going on around you.

Latest technology

So tiny you won't notice. Modern in-the-ear hearing aids are highly sophisticated pieces of equipment. These hearing products use noise reduction and directional technology for more natural hearing.
You no longer have to put up with high-pitched squealing noises when you use the phone. It’s also easier to distinguish between different sounds, and to follow conversations. Some options even offer MP3 players and Bluetooth connectivity for your comfort and entertainment!

Easy to handle

Easy to fit and clean. Whilst smaller hearing aids might be more discreet, you may find some of the larger in ear styles are easier to put in place or remove especially if you experience dexterity problems. This can also make in-ear hearing aids easier to clean and maintain.

Comfortable

Tailored to you. Custom hearing aids are moulded to the shape of your ears. This allows for incredibly easy handling, insertion and removal, and for the most subtle style available. There are several types of custom devices that vary in size. The latest Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) hearing devices are the desired choice for those who are interested in a near-invisible look.

Note: The type of technology in your chosen device will be based on your hearing needs and budget.

Receiver In the Ear (RIC) :

Small and unnoticeable

The RIC (Receiver in the ear canal) hearing aid type differs from the BTE by its way of transmitting sound. There are three distinct parts: the case, the wire-earpiece and the earpiece. The earpiece is placed directly in the ear canal unlike the classical BTE. The microphone and the amplifier are in a small box located behind the ear. The earphone wire is used to connect the earphone and the case.

A miniaturized case

Discreet and barely visible. The case of a RIC hearing aid is thinner and smaller than the classic earloop. It slips completely behind the ear for an almost invisible result. The customisation of the case colors makes it even more discreet, by matching it with skin colour or hair.

Handly set-up

You only need one hand. RIC hearing aids are easily put in place, only one hand is needed! The casing allows easy access to the battery location or setting buttons. Despite their lightness, they hold perfectly in place.

Powerful performance

Naturally flowing sound. RIC hearing aids benefit from the latest sound processing technologies, to deliver the most natural hearing experience.

Behind the Ear (BTE) : :

Fitting perfectly and easily

The Behind-the-Ear style or BTE, is one of the most versatile hearing aids available. They help nearly all types of hearing loss, and come in a Super Power model for maximum amplification. Depending on the severity and configuration of the hearing loss, most BTE styles can come with either a comfortable, custom ear mould or with a dome that fits within the ear canal.

Quality comfort

High quality, high comfort. Behind the ear style hearing aids are a lot sleeker and slimmer than they used to be giving you a very comfortable fit. The microphone sits behind the ear and the receiver is connected via a thin, clear tube that is placed inside the ear that routes the sounds around you.

Different styles

Choose the one for you. There are a variety of styles accommodating different performance features that can be tailored to your hearing needs.

Our experts

To Help you know more on BTE. To help you know more on BTE. To discover more about behind the ear hearing aids, you can get in touch with our expert hearing care professionals who can explain in more detail how the different models work and the available features. This can help you understand more about the types of hearing solutions that are available to you.

2. Tips on looking after your hearing aids

• Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling your hearing aids.
• Take off your hearing aids before showering, bathing, or swimming.
• Remove your hearing aids before applying perfume or hair spray.
• Levels of condensation in bathrooms or changing rooms can cause damage, so find a dry, secure storage location.
• Choose a dry storage location away from heat sources and out of direct sunlight. Make sure your location is out of reach of children and pets.
• Prevent excessive ear wax build-up by cleaning your ears periodically with an at-home irrigation kit.
• Clean your hearing aids regularly using your hearing aid cleaning kit. Use a soft, dry cloth and avoid household cleaners or solvents. For more information, see our cleaning guide.
• Store your hearing aids in their case or drying cup when not in use. If you won’t be using your hearing aids for an extended period, remove the batteries and store them separately.
• Use an expert if you need repairs. DIY repairs can cause damage to the tiny electrical systems inside your hearing aids, which can be costly to fix or cause permanent damage.
• If you lost your hearing aid but this is insured, you can request a new one from the center where you purchased it.

3. Hearing aid batteries.

Hearing aid batteries come in various sizes to suit the different types of hearing aids. Hearing aid batteries come in four sizes and are color coded to help you easily identify the right size.

• Size 10: Batteries have a yellow tab
• Size 13: Batteries have an orange tab
• Size 312: Batteries have a brown tab
• Size 675: Batteries have a blue tab

How long do hearing aid batteries last?

Many factors can influence how long each hearing aid battery lasts. The type of hearing aid, the amplification power, and the available features all play a part in battery length. For example, more hearing aid power is required when streaming television or music. Standard hearing aid batteries can last between 3 to 22 days.

Rechargeable hearing aids

There are also rechargeable hearing aids such as the ampli-energy, which utilize lithium-ion technology so you can charge your hearing aids overnight like you would with a phone. If changing the batteries on your hearing aids becomes difficult to manage, please speak with a qualified hearing specialist who can explore if rechargeable hearing aids would be suitable.