Hello, I have a problem, I need new hearing aids. I have had aids since I was in kindergarden and I have had several different behind the ear brands. I currently have 2 Rionet HB 54 BTE aids. These have lasted 3 years of extremely heavy perspiration and heavy usage. I am in the process of looking for new kind of hearing aid. I have a 50 db hearing loss in each ear. What are the possibilities of having an in the ear aid that is water resistant/proof that would suit the type of hearing loss that I have.

I don't reccomend ITE aids at all, as they really don't boost hearing that much. I have a conductive loss (mild-moderate-moderately severe) and I can hear so much better with BTEs then with ITEs. I have worn BTEs for most of my life with the exception of a couple of years in high school. I can hear with ITEs but not as well as with BTEs. My advice is to experiment with all the different types of aids and see which ones you can hear best with. You might find that a simple analog BTE aid will help you, you might find that you can hear really well with ITE aids. If you're concerned about cosmetics...don't be. I have a VERY "deaf" voice and hardly ANYONE notices my hearing aids.(I even have purple earmolds and beads on the tubing and hardly anyone notices them! You have NO IDEA how many people at my college have told me "I didn't even REALIZE you were deaf/hoh!"

You should see your audiologist and he will be able to tell you what aides will work best for your hearing loss. They will also probably run a new set of hearing tests just to see where your hearing loss is currently at since it can change from time to time. There are many new aids on the market and your audiologist can explain them all to you and tell what is best suited for you. Also if your current aides work well for you I am not sure why you feel you need new ones. Tubes are usually replaced every 6 months and they can send you aids in to be cleaned if that is something that is needed. You audiologist though can do most of that right in his office.