An open fit hearing aid is always a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid. The behind the ear hearing aid consists of a hearing aid case, a tube that goes into the ear canal, and a mold, tip, dome, or bud that fits on the end. The hearing aid sits on top of the ear and sounds are amplified through the tube into the ear canal. These are not the old clunky hearing aids. Most of them are 1 inch or less in length and less than a 1/4" wide...very small and inconspicuous. The tube that goes into the ear canal is very thin and opaque - almost invisible.
An open fit hearing aid are called that way because the tip, dome or bud that goes in the ear has holes in it. In other words it does not plug up or occlude the ear canal.
So what's the big deal? It just so happens that for the majority of people open fit hearing aids provide a better listening experience than any other type of hearing aid. Why? First, the holes in the bud allow ambient noise from the immediate area to enter the ear canal at the same time that sounds are being amplified by the BTE hearing aid. The openness also minimizes the hollow barrel feeling when talking. Second, with technology advances and digital processors, the high whistling sounds of feedback are minimized.
What are the costs of open fit hearing aids? Brand name hearing aids will cost between $2,000 and $4,000 each in an audiologists office and perhaps 20% less online. Our open fit hearing aids start at $495 and our top-of-the-line open fit hearing aid sells for $895 each. |
