Approximately 48 million Americans and nearly 15 percent of school-aged children suffer from some degree of hearing loss. The risk of hearing loss also increases with age, with one out of every three adults aged 65, or older experiencing hearing loss. If it's your first time shopping for a hearing aid, you'll find many styles available, which may be overwhelming at first. Choosing the right hearing aid plays a crucial role in comfortably improving your hearing and quality of life. Here is what you should know about the three most common styles of hearing aids.

In-the-Canal

This type of hearing aid is best for people with moderate to severe hearing loss. It is a discrete device that is custom made to fit your ear canal in size and shape. It also comes in a variety of colors that are meant to match your skin tone as much as possible. Due to its small size, you may find in-the-canal style more difficult to adjust and move than other styles. In addition, ITC hearing aids are prone to damage from ear wax and moisture. To avoid damage, it's crucial that you clean this style of hearing aid often. The discrete nature of in-the-canal devices is the major benefit.

In-the-Ear

The in-the-ear style of hearing aid fits comfortably inside the outer part of your ear. This style is suitable for all types of hearing loss from mild to severe. Full shell designs are encased in a hard type of plastic. It's easy to insert and remove from the ear and many come with external controls, which makes it more convenient for you to control. In addition, it has room for dual microphones, which is beneficial in noisy environments. However, because the receiver and microphone are close together, this style is slightly more prone to sound feedback issues.

Behind-the-Ear

Hearing aids that consist of a hard plastic case worn behind the ear are a very common type of hearing device. This style is connected to a plastic mold that fits inside your inner ear. It's comfortable to wear, easy to adjust, and is suitable for people with mild to severe hearing loss. Because of the design, there is much more space between the receiver and microphone, which means there are less feedback issues than with other styles, such as in-the-ear devices. However, this style of hearing aid is larger than in-the-ear and in-the-canal, so it's not as discrete. It's a good option for people who aren't self-conscious about wearing a hearing aid. 

To learn more about hearing aids contact a doctor, like those at County Hearing And Balance.