Which Are The Best Hearing Aids For Severe Loss Of Hearing?

A severe loss of hearing can be easily addressed when working with the right hearing aid. But which type would be best for you? Well, a few different types of hearing aids currently on the market can be used to address severe hearing loss, but every person is different when it comes to their hearing health. 

As such, talking to an audiologist is always the best thing to do when you’re curious about the best hearing aids for your level of hearing loss. But for your convenience, we’ve put together a guide on which hearing aids are often most suited for addressing a severe loss of hearing.  

What Is a Severe Loss of Hearing?

A severe loss of hearing is defined as hearing loss between 71 and 90 decibels. Severe hearing loss is also often considered to greatly impact a person’s life, with many mundane activities presenting obstacles that people with more typical hearing do not tend to experience. 

When it comes to diagnosing a severe loss of hearing, an audiologist will perform a series of different hearing tests to check your perception with all levels and types of sounds, with a full diagnostic test taking no more than 60 minutes. Furthermore, talking about all the above issues with an audiologist will help them to further solidify a severe loss of hearing diagnosis. 

The Best Hearing Aid Options

For those who are diagnosed with a severe loss of hearing, the most common form of treatment prescribed is hearing aids. Using hearing aids is usually quite easy, and people of all ages and skill levels can soon adapt to wearing them. 

In choosing a hearing aid, an audiologist will take your own comfort, hearing loss level and day to day needs into account. However, each person is different, and most people walk out of a hearing loss appointment with one of three types of hearing aids below: 

In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

In-the-canal hearing aids, often known as ITC aids, are incredibly discreet and adaptable hearing aids often used to address severe levels of hearing loss. They can be customized with a variety of features, such as a directional microphone, to allow a person much more control over how and what they hear. 

Made to sit in the outer ear, they can be quite comfortable to wear, but they can get clogged up with earwax and other debris thanks to their positioning. They also tend to last longer when powered by battery, thanks to their smaller size than the other hearing aids on this list. 

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids sit behind the outer top edge of the ear. They prevent a person from having to wear the aid inside the canal, which can be less disruptive for those with sensitive skin. 

BTE aids can also be customized to either match your hair or skin color to make them less noticeable. They also tend to be far more durable thanks to their larger size, meaning you won’t have to have them serviced as often by an audiologist. 

Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids

Completely-in-canal hearing aids are made to be invisible thanks to how deeply they are placed into the ear canal. However, CIC aids can be placed at a shallower level, which can be a comfort to people worried about fishing the aids out again. 

Thanks to how well they can fit and mold into the ear, the audio quality of CIC aids are unmatched, making them often a good fit for severe loss of hearing. They can also be easily removed by a tug string, which can make them easy to both fit and remove.  

Talk To an Audiologist 

If you’re living with severe loss of hearing, the next step is to talk to an audiologist about what hearing aid is going to be right for you. Here at Professional Hearing Solutions, we can offer advice and treatment for those concerned about their hearing health and if you’ve already got hearing aids fitted, we can also provide advice on how well they’re working. 

And if you need to talk about your hearing aid questions, we’re always here to take your call. You can contact us today at (386) 478-7345 to be put straight through to one of our representatives to book your appointment today.