If you have used hearing aids, I'd appreciate your advice...?

Question

Has anyone used the open-canal type hearing aids, the ones that go behind the ear and have tiny tubes going into the ear? How did they work for you?

Has anyone ever tried the "Interton" brand? What did you think of them?

Any other info and suggestions as to brands or types of hearing aids, based on first-hand experience, would sure be welcome. Tell me about your experiences.

Thanks!!

Answer 1

The open fit BTE aids are great for the losses that they are designed for. If your hearing loss is within the fitting guidelines for the product you will most likely be very happy with your results. All open ear products are not the same, however, there are open ear products that are basic high freq emphasis devices and then there are others that are really sophisticated using noise management and directional microphones.

We are fitting a good deal of the Oticon Delta 8000 (and the little sister product the Delta 6000) with excellent results. Those instruments have the open ear design, with the speaker actually in the ear canal. The sound quaility is great. These utilize artificial intelligence to control the directionality of the directional microphones to give you the best outcome in background noise. They also employ the latest technology in noise management. Additionally, they have a very cool design. My patients are most pleased with the cosmetics, as well as the amplified benefit. Check out www.my-delta.com or you can go directly to the Oticon website and search their entire product line, www.oticonus.com.

There is also a manufacturer called ReSound that has a nice looking open fit design called the Pulse. I admit that I have not fit any of those yet and cannot give you an opinion. Both ReSound and Oticon have more conventional types of instruments that are available in open fittings if the hearing loss precludes you from using the Pulse and the Delta.

I have not heard of Interton. Cannot comment on its product line, or dependability. I know that Oticon has been in business for over 100 years with a solid reputation, ReSound also has a good reputation for high quality products and good customer care. Don't necessarily go for the cheapest, make sure you know what type of technology you are getting and make sure that you compare and apple to an apple - because there are so many variables out there when choosing a hearing device. Be sure to go to an audiologist who has experience in fitting hearing devices. Stay away from the corner hearing aid dealer that is here today, and gone tomorrow. Of course I am biased - I am an audiologist in private practice in FL.

Answer 2

The open ear aids are great if you don't have very much hearing loss in the low frequencies. the advantage that they offer is that they don't plug up the ear (occlusion effect) you won't get that stuffy sound when you talk. You'll ear the lower sounds (vowels) with your low frequency hearing that may not be damaged and the high frequency sounds especially above 2000Hz will be amplified by your aid. These aids are light and comfortable, and you can also have a custom open mold made if you aren't comfortable with the one provided. Oticon, Siemens, Phonak all have very good aids. Talk to your audiologist and they will be able to help you determine which one is right for you. I am unfamiliar with the Interton brand but do know that most hearing aids are fairly similar and sometimes when they claim to do something new and awesome, those tests were run in labs and don't really work all that well in real world experiences. If the open fit hearing aid is right for your hearing loss I'd say go for it! They are wonderful aids and any of the above would probably meet your needs. I use the company siemens, but you should go with what your audiologist recommends.