| Hearing Aid Article (updated Frequently)
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| BTE HEARING AIDS |
| By: Martin Smith |
Behind the ear, also known as BTE, hearing aids are far and away
the most commonly used type of hearing aid. These hearing aids
are also what most people picture when hearing aids are
mentioned. The electronics which make a BTE hearing aid function
are housed in a plastic case which fits behind the ear and has a
tube that connects it to an ear mold which fits in the ear
canal.
They are designed to accommodate the entire spectrum of hearing
losses, from the mild to the severe. Although they are more
conspicuous then hearing aids that fit entirely in the ear
canal, they have a number of benefits that appeal to a wide
variety of hearing impaired individuals. In addition, BTE
hearing aids come in a number of sizes, shapes and colors. So
some behind the ear models are much less conspicuous then others.
Since behind the ear hearing aids are larger then their
completely in the canal, or CIC, counterparts, they can more
easily house a bigger amplifier and much stronger battery and
therefore may be especially beneficial to individuals with a
more severe hearing loss. BTE hearing aids are also rather
versatile in that they come in the most traditional analog style
as well as in the recently popularized digitally powered style
of hearing aids.
When budgetary constraints are an issue, behind the ear devices
definitely win out over hearing aids which fit completely in the
ear canal. Due to their larger size, other groups of people to
whom BTE hearing aids have more appeal then CIC models include
the elderly, arthritis sufferers and others with fine motor
control disabilities and related issues.
Finally since CIC models necessitate the wearing of a heavier
device in the canal then just the lightweight ear mold attached
to BTE hearing aids, there tends to be less ear canal irritation
with the former.
In the late 1800s the first commercially manufactured hearing
aids were patented and became available to the public. The first
behind the ear hearing aids came on the scene over fifty years
ago.
Prior to this, hearing aids were basically amplifiers worn
somewhere on the body and these were heavy and expensive, due in
part to rapid battery consumption. With the advent of the
smaller junction transistor in 1952, widespread BTE hearing aid
use became more of a reality.
Due to improvements in the technology of circuitry,1964 saw
another boom in use of BTE devices and the use of body worn
hearing aids dropped to less then twenty percent. By 1972
prototypes for hearing aids which could be programmed to a
variety of listening situations, were being created. The
following twenty years showed continued improvements and
advances in hearing aid technology.
Volume controls were added to most behind the ear devices in the
1990s and digital hearing aids started appearing in the mid
nineties. There has been continued new arrivals in the hearing
aid world since then such as remanufactured hearing aids,
disposable hearing aids and over the counter hearing aids. Who
knows what the future of behind the ear hearing aid technology
holds, the possibilities are endless
About the author:
Martin Smith is a freelance writer with advice for consumers on
purchasing a variety of Hearing issues his numerous articles
provide a resource of interesting and information. Visit her
website for more info. http://www.1st-hearing-aids.com
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| Keywords: 'hearing impairment' ear, bte hearing aids, aids, 'hearing impairment', hearing aids, bte hearing, bte hearing aid, behind the ear, hearing, hearing aid |
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