Guide
Hearing aids explained
The complete guide to hearing better
Basics
What is a hearing aid?
A modern hearing aid is far more than a speaker in your ear. It is a small computer that picks up sound, processes it in fractions of a second and passes it on to your ear in a form your hearing can work with again.
To do this, it analyses your listening environment several hundred times per second and decides automatically:
- Is this speech or background noise?
- Are you in a restaurant?
- In the car?
- At home?
- Watching television?
It then adapts the sound automatically so speech becomes easier to follow. Modern hearing systems can reduce distracting noise and bring speech to the foreground. Three components are always there: microphones pick up the sound, a processor amplifies and filters it, and a receiver passes it on to your ear canal. Where these parts sit depends on the style. How much the processor can do depends on the performance class. A hearing aid does not replace healthy hearing. It gets considerably more out of the hearing you still have, above all in conversation.
Styles
Which styles are available?
The style determines how a hearing aid sits and how much power it delivers. Which one suits you depends mostly on your hearing loss, and also on the shape of your ear canal, your dexterity and how discreet you want the device to be. There are two basic styles: behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) sit behind the outer ear, in-the-ear hearing aids (ITE) sit entirely in the ear canal. The receiver-in-canal (RIC) is a hybrid. The housing stays behind the ear, while the receiver moves into the ear canal and so sits close to the eardrum; that is why it is the most popular style today. In-the-ear devices range from full-shell ITE devices that fill the outer ear, through CIC devices deep in the ear canal, to IIC models that are practically invisible from outside. The smaller the device, the less room there is for the battery, microphones and controls, and the lower the maximum amplification.
| Style | Who is it for? | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| RIC (receiver-in-canal) | Almost all types of hearing loss, from mild to severe | small, light, very natural sound, receiver close to the eardrum |
| BTE with sound tube | Moderate to severe hearing loss | particularly powerful, robust, easy to handle |
| ITE (full shell, ITC) | Mild to moderate hearing loss | sits entirely inside the ear, custom-made from an impression of your ear canal |
| CIC and IIC (mini hearing aids) | Mild to moderate hearing loss, ear canal of normal width | deep in the ear canal, barely or not at all visible from outside |
| Instant fit | A quick start without custom moulding | wearable immediately, good for a first try |
| CROS fitting | Single-sided deafness | routes sound from the deaf ear to the hearing ear |
Technology
Rechargeable or battery?
Both have their strengths: it mostly comes down to your daily routine. Rechargeable hearing aids go into the charger in the evening and last through the next day, even with a few hours of TV sound or phone calls over Bluetooth. Battery hearing aids run on zinc-air button cells in sizes 10, 312, 13 and 675. Depending on the device, a cell lasts from a few days to two weeks, and changing it takes a minute. You can get hearing aid batteries at any of our stores, and in the subscription they are included in the price.
Rechargeable
- charge daily, full every morning
- no battery changes, nothing fiddly
- environmentally friendly, no button cells in the bin
- ideal for smartphone users and anyone who streams a lot
Battery
- swap any time, no charger needed
- ideal when travelling and away from a socket
- four battery sizes to match the style
- often the smaller and cheaper devices
Choosing
Which performance class suits me?
The performance class determines how well your hearing aid copes with difficult listening situations: in a restaurant, in the wind by the Elbe, in a church with reverberation. The more demanding your daily life, the more a higher class pays off. The style stays the same, as the same model range usually comes in every class. The prices below are for the subscription, per ear per month. What your health insurer covers, we work out on the pricing page.
Basis+
ab 34 € pro Stück / Monat
For quiet listening in familiar surroundings.
Who is it for?
- • quiet environments
- • at home
- • television
- • short conversations
Supports
- speech
- television
- phone calls
Economy Class
ab 49 € pro Stück / Monat
For everyday life with several people in the conversation.
Ideal for
- • shopping
- • family
- • smaller groups
Additionally
- better noise suppression
- automatic programmes
High Class
ab 64 € pro Stück / Monat
For people who are out and about and around others.
Ideal for people in
- • restaurants
- • clubs and societies
- • work
- • driving
Additionally
- better speech clarity
- wind noise reduction
- Bluetooth
- streaming
Premium Class
ab 79 € pro Stück / Monat
For people with an active daily life.
Suitable for
- • meetings
- • restaurants
- • theatre
- • holidays
- • concerts
Additionally
- artificial intelligence
- 360° speech focus
- automatic situation detection
- smartphone control
- Auracast
First Class
ab 94 € pro Stück / Monat
Our most capable technology.
For people
- • with the highest expectations
- • in frequently changing listening situations
- • at work
- • travelling
- • socialising
- • listening to music
Additionally
- maximum speech clarity
- best noise suppression
- the latest AI
- fully automatic adjustment
- future-ready technology
Features
What can modern hearing aids do?
Not every feature is included in every performance class. We are happy to show you what your preferred device can do, and which of it you need in your daily life. Some things sound like gimmicks and turn out to be invaluable every day, such as TV sound directly in the hearing aid. Others, for example new features like Auracast, only pay off once the cinema or station near you takes part.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Calls and music straight into the hearing aid |
| TV streaming | Television sound directly in your ear, at your own volume |
| Directional microphones | Focus your hearing on the person who is speaking |
| Feedback cancellation | No whistling when you hug someone or put on a hat |
| Wind noise filter | Less rushing noise on a walk along the dyke |
| Auracast | Public broadcasts (e.g. airports, cinemas) |
| Tinnitus function | Support for ringing in the ears |
| AI technology | Detects listening situations automatically |
| App control | Adjust the volume from your smartphone |
| Rechargeable battery | Charge overnight instead of changing batteries |
Manufacturers
Which manufacturers are there?
We work independently of any manufacturer. Each one has its own focus. One is strong at speech understanding in groups, another at connecting to the iPhone, another at the natural sound of your own voice. We will find out together which suits you, by trial wearing in your daily life rather than from a brochure.
| Manufacturer | Known for |
|---|---|
| Oticon | BrainHearing technology |
| Bernafon | Natural sound |
| Signia | Conversations in groups |
| Audio Service | Simple operation |
| Phonak | Universal Bluetooth connectivity |
| Unitron | Flexible technology levels |
| Starkey | AI and health features |
| ReSound | Natural directional hearing |
Common questions
What our customers ask us most often.
What is the difference between behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids?
With a behind-the-ear hearing aid, the technology sits behind the outer ear, and the sound reaches the ear canal through a thin tube or a receiver-in-canal. An in-the-ear hearing aid is made from an impression of your ear canal and sits entirely inside it. BTE devices deliver more power and are easier to handle, while ITE devices are more discreet. Both are an option for most types of hearing loss, and we show you both.
How small can a hearing aid be?
The smallest in-the-ear devices (IIC) disappear completely into the ear canal, and receiver-in-canal devices are also barely visible behind the ear. Whether a mini hearing aid suits you depends on the width of your ear canal and the degree of your hearing loss. Very small devices have less room for microphones and battery, so they are rarely the best choice for severe hearing loss.
How long does it take to get used to a hearing aid?
Most people adapt within two to four weeks. The brain has to relearn how to handle the full range of sound. We support you through that period with follow-up adjustments until the sound is right for you.
Can I try hearing aids first?
Yes. You can trial hearing aids in everyday life with no obligation: at home, at work, and in the situations where you actually want to hear better. You decide afterwards.
What does health insurance cover?
Statutory health insurers pay a fixed amount per ear. Servicing and repairs are covered by the insurance allowance and cost you nothing extra. Anything beyond that depends on the performance class you choose. We go through the numbers with you in advance.
Which hearing aid is right for severe hearing loss?
For severe hearing loss, powerful behind-the-ear devices are usually the best choice, because they deliver the highest amplification and take larger batteries. Receiver-in-canal models are now also available with power receivers. The hearing test shows us what is enough for your hearing.
Is a cochlear implant a hearing aid?
No. A cochlear implant is fitted surgically and stimulates the auditory nerve directly. It becomes an option when hearing aids are no longer enough, even for severe hearing loss; that decision is made by an ENT clinic. We tell you honestly whether a powerful BTE device can still serve you well.
Do I need two hearing aids or is one enough?
If both ears are affected, fitting both is almost always the better choice. Only with both ears can the brain locate direction and separate speech from background noise.
Can I hear the television directly through my hearing aids?
Yes, with a TV streamer that sends the television sound wirelessly to both hearing aids. You hear at your own volume, and your family hears the television as normal. The table above shows from which performance class Bluetooth to your smartphone is included.
Which colours and sizes are available?
Behind-the-ear devices come in hair and skin tones from beige to black, often also in silver or blue. In-the-ear devices are made in skin colour. The size follows the style and the power source: a receiver-in-canal device weighs a few grams, while a power BTE for severe hearing loss is noticeably larger.
What damages hearing aids most?
Moisture. Sweat, rain and showering are the most common cause of breakdowns. Take the devices out before showering and swimming, and put them in a drying box at night. Earwax in the receiver is the second most common cause. You can change filters and domes yourself or have us do it, no appointment needed.
How often should my hearing aid be serviced?
We recommend a professional clean and function check roughly every six months. Both are free with us. Simply drop by one of our stores.
How long does a hearing aid last?
Five to six years is typical. After that a change usually pays off, because the technology moves on considerably in that time, especially for speech clarity and connectivity.
Our advice
No single hearing aid is the best one for everybody. Brochures compare technology, we compare listening situations. What matters is:
- your hearing loss
- your daily life
- what you want from it
- your hobbies
- your working situation
Together we will find the hearing system that suits you best, and you wear it on trial for several weeks first.
Talk it through with us
A free hearing test tells us how you hear and which technology fits. No obligation, at all five stores: Glückstadt, Horst, Wedel, Barmstedt and Itzehoe.