There are many brand names and several styles of Atlanta hearing aids available; however, there is one general rule to keep in mind when making a selection: The smaller a hearing aid is, the more likely it is that it will cost more, have a shorter battery life, and be less powerful.

Atlanta Hearing Aid

Common Atlanta Hearing Aid Styles

All types of hearing aids work to carry sounds from the environment into your ear. There are, however, a few different styles from which you and your audiologist can choose:

• Completely in-the-canal hearing aid: This Atlanta hearing aid is custom molded to fit inside your ear canal and is considered to be the least noticeable style of hearing aid. This model does not, however, contain volume control or any other extra features. This style is not likely to pick up wind noise because the ear provides protection to the hearing aid.
• In-the-canal hearing aid: This model is also custom molded; however, it fits only partly inside the ear canal. Because of this, in-the-canal Atlanta hearing aids are able to include volume control or other features—although these features may be somewhat difficult to adjust due to the small size of the hearing aid. This style of hearing aid is not easily visible in the ear, which many users prefer.
• Half-shell hearing aid: Also custom molded, this style of hearing aid fits around the lower part of the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear. This hearing aid model is bigger than in-canal aids, but this allows it to include easy-to-control features like volume control and microphones.
• In-the-ear full-shell hearing aid: This type of hearing aid is custom made to fit the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear. Easy-to-adjust features are typically included on this style of Atlanta hearing aid. This style also uses larger, long-lasting batteries. But, full-shell aids are likely to pick up wind noise, which many users find irritating.
• Behind-the-ear hearing aid: This style hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the earlobe. Sound is picked up and carried to an ear mold that fits inside the ear canal. This type of Atlanta hearing aid used to be the most visible type of hearing aid; however, newer versions are more streamlined and less visible. Many audiologists believe that this is the most effective type of hearing aid.
• Open fit hearing aid: This style of Atlanta hearing aid is very small and fits behind the ear. Sound travels through a small wire or tube into a speaker in the ear canal. This model does not have any extra features, and it is only suggested for use in people with mild to moderate hearing loss.