Disposable hearing aids are simpler than conventional hearing aids. They are currently being marketed to the baby boomer population, with the thought that devices that can be cheaper for people with only mild or moderate hearing loss. Unlike conventional hearing aids, they are not custom-fitted. They usually cannot be adjusted, and instead come in a variety of configurations or prescriptions, selected to match the user’s level of hearing loss. A disposable hearing aid’s batteries cannot be replaced. They are designed to be thrown out after the batteries expire, which usually last for just over a month. Disposable hearing aids will offer similar quality as a conventional analog hearing aid.
The idea behind disposable hearing aids is that they will appeal to those people who are not sure if they need a hearing aid, and do not wish to spend the money required to purchase a conventional hearing aid. Disposable hearing aids usually cost between $40 and $50 each. This compares to a conventional digital hearing aid which can cost up to five thousand dollars for a pair. While a conventional hearing aid should last for about five years, the overall price of disposable hearing aid may be slightly more expensive. However, there is not as much money tied up in the device at any one time, making replacement much easier. A disposable hearing aid can be available immediately after a hearing test. There is no need to wait for it to be manufactured like a conventional hearing aid. The potential cost of repair or replacement batteries is eliminated as if the device breaks; you just throw it out and get a new one. If the device is lost or dropped, the cost of a replacement is far less than for a conventional hearing aid.
While disposable hearing aids are sometimes described as one size fits all, they actually fit about 80% of adult male ears and about 60% of adult female ears, although some products advertise a higher rate of match. Most disposable aids are of the in the ear type. However, instead of being molded to the ear, they make use of a soft cap that provides an acoustic seal about halfway down the ear canal.
A disposable hearing aid does have a short life span. They cannot be custom fit, meaning they may be uncomfortable for some people. And disposable hearing aids are not as flexible as modern digital hearing aids, which can be programmed to respond differently in a wide variety of situations. Perhaps the biggest concern of audiologists about disposable hearing aids is that users of them will not have their hearing checked on a regular basis, leading to potential uncorrected problems.
All About Open Fit Hearing Aids
The number of choices offered for a hearing aid, in the market, is overwhelming. This article talks about open fit hearing aids that are in the market. In the case of an open fit hearing aid, one does not have to wait for the ear mould to be prepared, and then returned to you, this makes the time taken comparatively lesser than the latter. These make your job easier when you get it from the dealer. The open type hearing aids have evolved a lot and are less bulky now, and they even come in various colors, and also in user friendly designs. The quality has also increased, and people are happy wearing the ones that are coming now.
Many people do not accept the point that they require help to function properly. It is not a shame to accept the fact that they need help in hearing properly, but often, people consider this to be a matter of pride, and stay away from hearing aid. The children fear about being teased by others, and also care about the insults that they will have to face from the society to be wearing a hearing aid at this age, and they also feel that the hearing aid diminishes their looks. The adults see it as a sign of getting older.
The open fit hearing aids are referred to as over-the-ear hearing aids, or OTE. These are to make the wearer feel comfortable, as they are fitted behind the ear, and with an invisible plastic tube that goes into the ear near the ear canal.
OTE hearing aids are best for hearing defects of high frequency. You must be knowing that the hearing defects varies from person to person. The loss occurs at different levels, and also at different stages. In case of the open fitting hearing aids, the power given is mainly for the defect due to high frequencies.
There is another name for these OTE aids, they are also referred to as BTE hearing aids, behind-the-ear hearing aids. The tubing is of plastic, the tubing, and the ear mould conduct sound keeping the ear mould open. Open fit aids are best suited for children, but adults also wear them. These usually come in bright colors to attract the kids.
One of the most baffling problems with this device is that the plastic tubing might get cracked. So, one needs to take care of the hearing aid in such a way that it remains protected, both from you and others. You need to take utmost care in protecting this device, as the dear pet of yours might end up chewing the device into pieces.
It is always suggested by experts that one must have his hearing capacity checked before he goes in for a hearing aid. This is because ear is a very complex part in human body, and only a trained professional can give you accurate details that might be missed out otherwise. And, finally, your ears are not to be neglected, you cannot be complete without the listening capacity.