There is an array of hearing aids on HC Audiology to meet varying needs. One type that has become increasingly popular is an open fit hearing aid.
Open-fit hearing aids Adelaide are small devices worn behind the ears that connect via a thin tube to an earmold inside. They do not occlude hearing and provide many benefits for wearers, such as own-voice recognition and localisation.
Better sound quality
Open-fit hearing aids tend to outshone BTE ones when it comes to sound quality, partly due to not blocking the ear canal, allowing low frequency sounds into your ear without experiencing distortion or muffled voices due to being blocked off by their design.
Open-fit designs also play an integral part in noise reduction. Their noise cancellation feature means you can hear speech clearly without background noise, making it easier to follow conversations and stay focused even in noisy environments.
Open-fit hearing aids can often be fitted more quickly than BTE devices due to not requiring custom ear molds for fitting. Your audiologist should be able to fit you with one in just one visit; especially if opting for what’s known as an “RIC model”.
Like other types of hearing aids, open-fit models still produce an artificial sound which may require time to get used to. However, unlike ear mold-based devices they tend to cause less irritation. Furthermore, you no longer have to worry about losing or misplacing them! However, you should still replace your ear tip regularly to make sure that it remains undamaged or free from wax build-up.
No ear molds required
One of the primary advantages of open fit hearing aids is their non-necessity for custom ear molds to fit perfectly, drastically cutting your fitting time down. You could walk out from an appointment with an open-fit hearing aids Adelaide in hand while other models might require longer appointments and waiting times before their custom molds arrive – this makes an open fit hearing aid stand out against others!
Open-fit hearing aids work similarly to BTE hearing aids in that they capture sound through an onboard receiver and amplify it for your benefit, however these devices don’t occlude your ear canal and tend to provide superior sound quality without complaints of the ‘occlusion effect’ that causes users to perceive their own voices as too loud or hollow – a common complaint associated with BTEs fitted with occluding earmolds or small vents (Dillon 2012).
An open-fit hearing aid keeps your ear canal open, eliminating this issue. Furthermore, its slim tube allows direct entry of low-frequency sounds directly into your ear canal for improved hearing in noisy environments and reduced feedback when speaking on the telephone. Be sure to schedule a hearing test today in order to learn more about this new style and see if it’s the right solution for you!
Easy to clean
Open-fit hearing aids are much simpler to keep clean than their behind-the-ear (BTE) counterparts, as there’s no casing that needs to be hooked onto your ear for maintenance. To remove wax, just pull straight out and brush with a vent cleaner; they may also benefit from being submerged in warm soapy water to loosen any stuck wax or moisture.
When brushing openings, ports or vents on your device, make sure it is held upside down over a tissue or easy-to-clean surface to ensure any debris or earwax you dislodge doesn’t return into its own device. It is also beneficial to do a daily check of your Open-fit hearing aids Adelaide so it has ample time to air out before being placed back into your ears.
If earwax becomes an issue, make an appointment with an audiologist for a “clean and check.” They will ensure all parts of your device are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected; you may require new earmolds at this point; your audiologist can advise as to their approximate lifespan.
Though you can conduct basic cleaning yourself, it is wise to arrange regular appointments with an audiologist. They can inspect and replace earmolds as necessary, clean receiver and microphone ports, and perform other services that will keep your device functioning efficiently.
Comfortable to wear
Open-fit or BTE hearing aids (behind-the-ear) devices feature a plastic tube that protrudes from the outer part of your ear canal, keeping the wax buildup out and helping protect hearing capabilities. Furthermore, this style reduces that “plugged up” feeling often associated with in-the-ear devices. Furthermore, devices featuring small domes may reduce any potential obstruction effect – an excellent solution for people suffering high frequency hearing loss who experience an irritating “plugged up” sensation from in-the-ear devices.
Hearing aids with open ear canals function similarly to other hearing aids; with a microphone picking up sound waves and converting them into electrical signals for processing by an amplifier. Once processed, these signals are then amplified before being sent directly into your ear through a slim tube; leaving low frequency sounds to enter naturally without being amplified, making this type of hearing aid ideal for people suffering mild-moderate high frequency hearing loss.