Download I Have A Hearing Loss. . . Now What??

Learning about your choices
What options do you have?
Do nothing
Get a hearing aid
Get a cochlear implant
Learn Sign Language
Hearing Aid Options
 Behind The Ear (BTE)
 In The Ear (ITE)
 In the canal (ITC)
 Completely in the Canal
(CIC)
 Cochlear Implant (CI)
BTE – Behind the Ear
 Able to accommodate growth
which is why it’s ideal for
children.
 Earmolds are easy and cheap to
make when new ones are
needed.
 Most visible which is why some
children are resistant to
wearing them.
 Can have lots of feedback
(ringing) if not fitted correctly.
In the Ear (ITC)
 Works for mild to severe
losses
 Fits completely in the
bowl of the ear
 Among the most visible
types of hearing aids
In the Canal (ITC)
 Works only for mild to
moderate losses
 Customized to fit your
ear canal
 Difficult to change the
battery
 Can have feedback
Completely in the Canal (CIC)
 Molded to ear canal
 Difficult to change
settings and battery
 Barely visible
 More expensive
Open Fit Hearing Aid
 Similar to behind the ear
(BTE)
 The case is much smaller
 Smaller tubing
 No earmolds involved
Cochlear Implant (CI)
 Works for people with severe to
profound hearing loss who
cannot be helped with hearing
aids
 Directly stimulates the auditory
nerve bypassing the damaged
parts of the ear
 Requires minor surgery
 Does NOT restore normal
hearing, instead gives a
representation of sound
Sign Language
 Some people do not
benefit enough from
either hearing aid or
cochlear implant
 They need to rely on
their vision for
communication and
learning
 American Sign Language
(ASL), total
communication, cued
speech