ExR

Hi there,

For those of you with a conductive hearing hearing loss, what is your favourite type of hearing aid and why?

I've tried normal BTE's, a BAHA, ITE and a mini BTE. My favourite is the Mini BTE.

For those who are interested, this is my experience: (skip this bit if you cba to read it! )

Conventional BTE

I found that these tend to be fairly bulky and the mould had to be guarded with my life because it takes a minimum of 2 weeks to get it replaced if it's lost or broken in the UK! This type of aid is very noticeable to others and also acts as a nasty ear plug. Not very good for keeping ears clean! That said, I did find it to be a very effective aid in terms of sound amplification.



BAHA

Having to undergo surgery was rather daunting for me. Once I got my BAHA, I often found it very painful to connect it. I never liked having a screw permanently attached to my head. The sound also seemed very unnatural to me and I never fully adjusted to it. I didn't like the appearance of it (bulky). It also put restrictions on my lifestyle. (I.e. it put me off from participating in sports etc.) I did appreciate the fact that I was one of the first in the UK to receive this type of aid. However, the titanium screw fell out within a year! The end result for me is a very sensitive part on my head. (where skin graft was taken.) Perhaps things have changed since then though.



ITE

Looked good and the sound quality was very good due to the precise fit.
However, I found it very difficult to insert and remove. Obviously, it also plugged my ear, which made it more difficult to keep my ear clean. The aid was also prone to getting blocked, and it was more difficult to clean/unblock than a regular BTE aid. (Especially when you're not at home!)

It was a major annoyance when it broke, because it meant that I had to have a new impression and wait weeks for a new one. Not only that, I had to adjust to using a different type of hearing aid (BTE) meanwhile until I got a replacement ITE.



Mini BTE

ALMOST the best possible solution for me. The thin tube design means that my ear is not completely blocked/plugged by the aid. This helps keep my ear clean. It also lets me hear natural/unaided sounds (i.e. the frequencies I can naturally hear well.) Another good thing about this aid, is that the entire device can be replaced easily/quickly. I also like the fact that it's small and not easily noticeable. I'd even go as far as saying that it's a pretty cool looking little device.

The only bad thing about it for me is that my Siemens Reflex L is on its limits for my degree of hearing loss. This is only an issue in busy/crowded/noisy environments, but it's something I'm adapting to. Hopefully my situation will improve when the NHS offer more advanced mini BTE's. (That said, I'm not sure if it's a design limitation as opposed to a specific limitation with the model.)


Not the NHS supplied Siemens Reflex L model (unfortunately!!)

Deafness

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lovezebras

I can only wear power BTE's so I guess ill choose that haha

djchur

Don't have any choice, have to wear super power BTEs, currently NHS Reflex DSPs. However, they are better than the bulky analogue aids I wore as a child.

I have a mixed hearing loss, a conductive component, due to chronic infections and a mastoidectomy as a child, on top of a bilateral sensorineural loss.

cdmeggers

normal BTEs for me. My hearing loss is in the severe-profound range so I need the extra power!

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overthepond

Also from wet and gloomy Blighty, welcome to AD.

CI and HA, I prefer CI over HA anyday, wonderful techology, still have the love and hate relationship but thats nothing comparing to learning new sounds everyday.

Sarfarigirl2011

my fave type right now would be the BTE since they require power earmolds and alot of amplication!

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18 yr old girl with a moderate/severe in the right and severe on the left.
currently wearing purple Oticon Safari P 600s

evil_queen_lisa

BTE - only thing I can really wear... plus cool colors.. you can't get glow-in-the-dark ITEs!!
[note that i have SNHL though, NOT conductive]
*EQL*

Tousi

BTE analog...

AlleyCat

I wear BTE's. Mine are nice and bulky. I would LOVE the mini-BTE, but they have yet to come out with one powerful enough for me. But I'm being patient, HA manufacturers will get there. Many of these were not available not all that long ago, it is only a matter of time. I don't mind the size of the BTEs as I'm so used to them, but I like the idea of the teeny earmolds !!!

inmate23

body worn

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Please remeber I have audio processing disorder

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deafdyke

I have conductive loss. Many people with my kind of loss are getting the BAHA. I tried it, but like my standard BTEs!

emt_me911

Siemens...definitely. I've been wearing hearing aids all my life and only a few pairs of them over the years have been a different brand. I'm in the process of getting new ones right now and I'm going to get the Siemens Pure 501 BTEs. I've tried them out and I love them. Right now, I wear ITC aids but the new Pures are better. I hope to get them in the next couple of weeks.

LisaSAHM2Babes

I had the in the canal when I was 8 got the CIC when I was 13 both of which I prefered when I was younger now I have BTEs since the Army paid for them and that was what my hearing loss required... and though I dont care for the look of them I like them the most because now I can hear more then I ever have.

springtime

I have a conductive hearing loss, and I use a mini-BTE. At this point, it is powerful enough. I plan to use this style as long as possible, depending on how my hearing loss progresses.

I didn't consider the BAHA, although my insurance covers it (but NOT the BTE, which I paid cash for) because I don't want surgery, and the BTE works well enough yet. The audi said ha's that go in the canal aren't strong enough for me.

Hask12

BTE, more bang for the buck. My days of being able to wear any kind of ITE aid are long past. Also my days of thinking that I could fool people into thinking that I could hear well are also long past, so who cares if anyone can see my aids.

ncff07

my favorite aid... is kool-aid... tropical punch to be exact!

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