Do you enjoy picking up new albums at Monster Music & Movies to listen to on your commute? If so, you probably wish you could listen through headphones; unfortunately, wearing hearing aids can make this difficult. Below we review what options you have depending on what type of hearing aids you wear.
Bluetooth-Enabled Hearing Aids
The best option for enjoying music without bothering others if you have hearing loss is to invest in Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. These devices can connect wirelessly to your phone, iPod, MP3 player, tablet or laptop and stream music directly to your ears at a volume level you can easily hear.
If Your Devices Aren’t Bluetooth-Enabled
If your devices don’t have Bluetooth capabilities and you’re not yet ready to upgrade, there are other options. Different styles of hearing aids work best with different types of headphones, though it may take some trial and error.
In-the-Ear Hearing Aids
Styles of in-the-ear hearing aids include the following:
- Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are the smallest on the market and fit deep in the ear canal.
- In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are slightly larger and sit in the lower portion of the ear bowl.
- Low-profile hearing aids sit in the ear bowl, filling either half or all of it.
Since all these styles of in-the-ear hearing aids fit in the ear canal or in the bowl, they are compatible with on-ear or over-hear headphone styles. Those with IICs may be able to wear earbuds.
Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
Styles of behind-the-ear hearing aids include the following:
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) and mini BTEs house their main components in a shell that sits behind the ear, which connects via tubing to an earmold where sound comes through.
- Receiver-in-canal (RIC) and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids have the speaker built into the part that sits in the ear canal rather than the casing that’s behind the ear.
If you wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, it’s important to find a set of headphones that fit completely around the ear and hearing aid. You’ll also want to make sure the headphone speakers are far enough from the hearing aid microphones to prevent feedback.
For more information about listening to music with hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.