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As a rule of thumb, hearing aids increase or decrease in price inversely with size. Typical, as with most electronics, the smaller the size of a given item, the higher the cost. The primary reason is that in order to make electronic items smaller, it is necessary to use higher technology to make the components and circuits smaller. Also, the newer the technology, the higher the price. The primary reason is that manufacturers must recover the research and development costs before they can afford to lower the price. If you are patient, you can acquire the technology of today at a much lower price by waiting several years until there is a newer technology:
CIC (Completely-in-the-canal): In
order to disguise a hearing loss, it is first necessary to have the proper electronic
circuit for your loss so that you are hearing as well as possible. Then it is important
that the hearing aid not be visible to the casual observer. The CIC is the smallest
instrument which can be effectively placed in the ear to supplement hearing. It fits
in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal where it is the most difficult for others to
see. Hence, its' great popularity in spite of the higher cost. Because of its'
small size, some hearing losses may not be good candidates for this size instrument,
but it can effectively be used to fit most mild to even severe hearing losses.
Because of the limitations of miniaturization, some small ear canals are difficult if not
impossible to fit with a CIC. Your hearing instrument
specialist can help you determine whether or not you are a good candidate for
a CIC.
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Mini-Canal: This instrument fits at the aperture of the canal and is the next size larger than the CIC, yet slightly smaller than the in-the-canal, making it useful for smaller ears. This instrument is good for mild to moderate hearing losses and can also be difficult for others to see.
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In-the-Canal: Commonly called a Canal instrument, it can be used for mild to moderately severe hearing losses. While it is slightly larger than the mini-canal and a little easier to see, it is less usually less expensive.
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Half Shell (Half Concha): It is used for mild to moderately severe hearing losses and fills only the lower half of the concha bowl or ear. It is larger than the canal and less expensive.
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Low Profile In-the-Ear: Cosmetically,
the low profile ITE fills the entire ear or concha, but is more recessed than the standard
ITE. It can fitted for mild to severe hearing losses. It is less expensive
than the half-shell, but more expensive than the standard ITE.
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In-the-Ear: It fills the entire ear
or concha and can be used to fit a wide range of hearing losses from mild to extremely
severe. It is the least expensive of all the hearing instrument models from which to
choose.
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Behind-the-Ear: The behind the ear
hearing instrument is used for severe to profound hearing losses. The instrument is
contoured to fit behind the ear, and has a tube which goes to the mold which is placed in
the ear to send the sound to the ear drum. The instruments themselves can be very
small, and the molds used for profound losses can even be difficult-to-see canal types.
They are usually more expensive than standard ITE instruments, but less than the
small instruments which fit into the canal.
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