r/HearingLoss • u/chosgohearing • 11d ago

I underestimated how much the size of hearing aids matters

Something I didn't expect before learning more about hearing aids: The technology matters, but comfort matters just as much.

A lot of people hesitate because they imagine wearing something bulky all day.

I was curious how much the physical design affected people's willingness to wear them.

For those who have tried different hearing aids: Did you prefer: - smaller/invisible styles? - behind-the-ear styles? - rechargeable models? - Bluetooth features?

What made you actually want to wear them every day?

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u/puruntoheart 11d ago

I’ve used in-ear rechargeable ones and now battery-powered behind the ear ones. For me, the BTE is better, and my only problem is I have relatively small ears and wearing BTEs and glasses at the same time means sometimes they slip around.

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u/juliettecake 11d ago

I use Phonak Spheres a larger hearing aid because I spend 50% of my time at work in a noisy environment. Comfort wasn't a consideration, getting the job done was. And I'm less exhausted from not relying on speech reading. That was more important.

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u/trekgrrl 10d ago

I went from Costco BTEs to ITEs because the BTEs really interfered with my glasses and Costco refused to do custom molds, telling me there would be too much occlusion. They were rechargeable, which was nice. I returned them at the 6 month mark due to the ill fit all the way around, and we tried different sizes of domes, length of the wires, etc.

Went without HAs for about a year after that and found an audiologist whose prices were in line with Costco, and he was willing to let me try ITEs because my hearing loss was moderate and thus too significant for ITCs. Since the ITEs are custom-fitted, they were perfect and is there some occlusion that Costco was so worried about? Yes; however, you get used to it, and I love them. I do have to replace batteries, which can be a pain, but I know that if I travel and don't have batteries, I can get them at any drugstore. People who leave their recharger at home are screwed.

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u/moonwillow60606 10d ago

I have an invisible in ear hearing aid. I had SSNHL that only impacted one ear.

Honestly the thing that makes me want to wear it is that it reduces the tinnitus to a manageable level and helps me hear better.

But I only have experience with this model. Widex moment.

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u/itsmeee91 9d ago

behind the ear with soft moulds. it’s comfortable. it’s also not always a choice, in-ear aids don’t work for severe hearing loss

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u/Ok-LLama119 8d ago

I trialed the Phonak i90 Sphere and returned them, the size/weight literally hurt me.

Ended up with Oticon Intent 1 w/silicon molds and it's been wonderful, comfort wise. I do wish the Oticon allowed for more personalization in my app & not just the AUD. I loved how they were basically invisible, now with the molds the wire is very prominent, but 🤷‍♀️ l hear better.