Hearing aid Facts for Kids

A pair of Oticon Spirit Zest digital BTE (Behind the Ear) hearing aids.

In-the-ear aid

A modern behind the ear hearing aid, the audio tube to the speaker is barely visible.

A modern behind the ear hearing aid with a minicell battery.

A hearing aid is a small electrical machine which fits in or behind a person's ear. The purpose of a hearing aid is to make sounds louder so the person can hear spoken words and other sounds.

The two most common types of modern hearing aids are behind the ear aids and in the ear aids.

Before hearing aids were invented, people used "ear trumpets" also called ear horns.

Types of hearing aids

There are many different types of hearing aids. They are good for different users depending on lifestyle and how much help they need to hear. An audiologist can help make hearing aids work even better for a user by customising them.

In-The-Canal (ITC) - the smallest type of hearing aid, these are made to fit inside the ear canal and can be used by people with mild to moderate hearing loss
In-The-Ear (ITE) - these are slightly larger than the ITC aids and fit inside the outer ear instead of the canal. These can be used by people with mild to severe hearing loss
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) - sit behind the ear and connect to a mould placed in your ear through a tube. This type of aid is usually the largest but can be used by almost anyone with hearing loss and has many different functions

Different hearing aids.

Images for kids

A sign in a train station explains that the public announcement system uses a "Hearing Induction Loop" (audio induction loop). Hearing aid users can use a telecoil (T) switch to hear announcements directly through their hearing aid receiver.
A hearing aid with an audio boot
A DAI plug on the end of a cable
Madame de Meuron with ear trumpet
Hearing aid shop, Dublin, Ireland
Vacuum tube hearing aid, circa 1944
Transistor body-worn hearing aid.
Pair of BTE hearing aids with earmolds.
Receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids
In-the-ear hearing aid
In-the-canal hearing aid
Completely in the canal hearing aids
Woman wearing a bone anchored hearing aid
Hearing aid application
Oticon hearing aids for use with Bluetooth wireless devices
Phonak wireless FM system

Hearing aid facts for kids

Types of hearing aids

Images for kids

See also