CIC or BTE (70dB loss HF) - Hearing Disorders Message Board

Jake_s0 · 05-31-2003, 07:15 AM

I went to the audiologist recently with for the most part, 70dB High Frequency loss in both ears although i do have some loss in the lower frequencies in the left. Anyways, he gave me plenty of options. He recommened BTE's in both ears but said that CIC would be an option (because i am young and worried about looks). Anyways, he said BTE would compensate for all my loss while CIC would help but probably not bring my audiogram back up to the normal range. He said i would still have a mild loss to moderate loss with the CIC's. Has anyone on here tried CIC's with a similar loss? Did it work? I think i might try the CIC's first because he said there was a 30 day trial in which i could switch to BTE's if the CIC's dont work for me. Another thing he mentioned was that BTE is directional, which means it is better in background noise. That is the situation that bothers me the most. How are CIC's for background noise? For now i am just looking at Analog low end programmables.

Too many options... Very confused!

Thanks,
Jake

montag66 · 06-02-2003, 07:49 AM

CIC:
Pros
*cosmetic
*mic deeper in the canal for more natural sound
*compatible with telephone

Cons
*Cost more.
*Change in ear shape from aging or weight change requires a new hearing aid.
*Require more repairs due to all of the electronics in the ear exposed to moisture,wax, and oil.
*Less durable.
*Provide less gain than larger aids, not as much. reserve gain when needed in future.
*Possible comfort problems due to depth of fit.
*Short battery life.
*Harder to manipulate.

BTE
Pros
*Bigger case allows for more options;dual/directional mics, volume control, telephone coil, multiple programs.
*More comfortable fit as mold does not have to be as deep or occluded.
*Less chance of feedback due to distance between mic and sound output.
*More durable than smaller aids.
*Need less repairs, electronics exposed to ear wax and oil.
*More flexible in programming, larger aid can provide more gain for future need.
*Change in ear shape requires a new $50 earmold.
*Longer battery life.

Cons
*More noticeable. I recommend getting a clear mold and BTE case that matches hair color.

I'm a big fan of the BTE and we are seeing it's popularity increase in the past few years due to its Pros. But, if a patient is very concerned about cosmetics, a CIC must be considered. While CIC's work great with high frequency losses, the BTE will work much better, today and in the future.

[This message has been edited by montag66 (edited 06-02-2003).]

Jake_s0 · 06-02-2003, 03:30 PM

Thanks for the reply. Definetly a lot of things to consider. BTE seems like the way to go as far as functionality, durability, and price. But unfortunetly i am willing to sacrifice all of that for cosmetic purposes. Not sure if that is a wise move or not.

One thing i found interesting is that you mentioned matching the bte's color to my hair instead of my skin. I have never heard of that before. Is that less noticable?

I am finding that i am spending a lot of time doing research on hearing aids (styles, prices, functions). I am not sure if this is good or not. I am also very frustrated by the fact that i haven't really settled on anything yet and i continue to not be able to properly in public settings and when background noise is present. I think it is about time for me to decide.

Thanks,
Jake

montag66 · 06-02-2003, 04:13 PM

Yeah, match the case to your hear and the aid "disappears". Well, not really, but it is much less noticeable than the stock beige color.

If your problems are in noisy environments, then your best bet is a BTE with direction mics. You will be happy with any hearing aid from companies like Oticon, Resound, Phonak, Siemens, Widex. These are the leaders when it comes to technology. You can do research but it really comes down to the skill level of your audiologist. He/she has to be competent working with the manufacturers fitting software.

I understand your concern about cosmetics. As a matter of fact, most of my patients, when in my office, ask me, "what's it going to look like?" and "how much is it going to cost?". They rarely ask how it's going to sound. You are paying for sound quality, not looks. You really should think about your priorities.

Any other questions, let me know.

Jim
Audiologist

Jake_s0 · 06-02-2003, 05:24 PM

How powerful are the CIC's? I have at most 75dB loss and that doesnt occur until around 2k. I have a sloping loss. I am just wondering if that will be maxing out CIC's? I am concerned about shortened battery life and distorted sound because as far as i understand, 70dB is at the max of what CIC's can do.

Another thing i am worried about is the fact that CIC's might not even be an option for me because i dont think my ear canals are big enough. I heard that CIC's require a certain size canal. I sometimes have problems getting a q-tip in my ear. i think it is only the opening of the canal that is narrow. Will this be a problem? This could work to my advantage though (might force me to get BTE).

If CIC isnt an option, how are ITC's? i have heard that they are actually less power than CIC and are bad for background noise and bad for feedback.

Sorry for all the questions!