Hearing aids come in varied styles Behind the Ear (BTE), In the Canal, Completely in the Canal (CIC), Receiver in the Canal, Full Shell, Half Shell, Open Ear (no earmold, only a thin tube and dome), and colors. Most hearing aid companies make digital hearing aids that convert sound into computer data. A few still make analog aids that only make sounds louder. Others make hearing aids that resist water and sweat. About.com has a
Hearing Aid Gallery. Hearing aid technology advances so quickly that "advanced" features today will be "standard" features tomorrow.
Magnatone manufactures digital hearing aids. Their products have features such as a Feedback Shield that reduces feedback, the ability to distinguish music from other sounds, and a HydroGuard for protection from moisture and humidity. Additional features include a dual microphone system for noisy and non-noisy environments, taper control for volume adjustments, speech enhancement, noise reduction, automatic telephone detection, and multiple memories. The noise reduction feature has three layers: steady state (refrigerator), pseudo-random (noise between speech gaps), and reduction of loud sounds when speech is soft.
Micro-Tech is a young company, established in 1986. Micro-Tech's digital hearing aids include features such as acoustic signature for environmental detection, a directional speech detector, automatic telephone response, indicators for things like low battery and feedback elimination. Models have different numbers of channels and bands. The more advanced models have more features.
Miracle-Ear hearing aids have been around a long time. The company also has a foundation to help with the cost of children's hearing aids.
The last hearing aids I ever had were
Oticon hearing aids -- and today those would be in a museum. That was a long time ago. Today's Oticon hearing aids run the gamut from conventional BTEs to wireless hearing aids that work with a Bluetooth streaming device. One of the offerings is a rugged BTE hearing aid for severe to profound hearing loss. An open ear model has a feature for focusing on speech and reducing noise. Another open ear model has an award-winning design with a triangular shape, and comes in multiple colors.
Phonak is a hearing aid manufacturer that makes the full range of hearing aid styles. They also make the full range of hearing aid technologies: digital, digitally programmable analog, and analog. The analog hearing aids are adjusted with a screwdriver and can not have more advanced features available in the digital models. However, this keeps the analog hearing aids affordable. The most advanced models have wireless technology and Bluetooth compatability, and users can control the direction sound is coming from.
Resound makes the full range of hearing aid styles, from BTE to CIC. Most of the open ear fitting hearing aids have stylish designs. One of the open fitting models comes in two versions. One version is a sound tube with a dome, and a second version has the receiver in the canal. Features include feedback cancellation, and wind noise management. One of the more advanced models has an intelligent recharging system, and another advanced model has the ability to adapt to different environments.
Rexton is a hearing aid manufacturer that makes primarily digital hearing aids, in all styles from BTE to CIC. Receivers in the canal models are also available, in different sizes for better canal fitting. (Rexton is one of the few companies still making analog hearing aids, available only as BTEs.) The most advanced models have features such as wireless technology, wind noise reduction, and adaptive/directional microphones. An advanced digital model is rechargeable, and still has an option of using batteries. One advanced model even comes with an optional remote control.
This is the English language site of the Japanese hearing aid manufacturer, Rion. Rion is one of the very few manufacturers left of body worn hearing aids, and also makes behind the ear, digital, and in the ear hearing aids. Their line includes a waterproof behind the ear model. Rion has a large selection of models (for example, there are almost 20 digital hearing aid models). Their in the ear hearing aids come in two versions, in the ear readymade, and in the ear custom designed.
Sebotek makes a full line of digital hearing aids. Their digital hearing aids have frequency response from 100 Hertz to 14,000 Hertz. Advanced models have features such as noise reduction, feedback cancellation, and dual directionality. There is also power on delay, meaning the hearing aid does not turn on immediately when it is inserted. The open fit model has a soft tip receiver that when placed in the canal, moves with the canal. Models are offered for hearing losses ranging from 80 to 100 decibels.
Siemens has been producing hearing aids for at least a century. They have a very large selection of hearing aid models in all available styles. Typical basic features include directional microphones, switchless t-coils, alerting tones, etc. Higher powered versions of models are available for those who need more power to hear. At least one model is water resistant and rechargeable. Some models have a feature called nanocoating, to protect against moisture (such as sweat). The CIC models are powerful enough for people with severe hearing loss. The pediatric hearing aids work with audio shoes for FM access. Another line is just for babies. One line has wireless technology for communication between two aids.
