Are Open Ear Hearing Aids the

Future?

Open ear hearing aids, also known as open-fit, are a non specific type of listening instrument

designed to prevent occlusion, one of the

most noted and annoying drawbacks to wearing hearing aids.

If you hold the palms of your hands against your ears, you'll experience

the booming, unnatural and ultimately

disruptive sound quality that results from

cutting off the natural flow of air into your ear

canal.

This is similar to the occlusion many experiences

with some listening instruments. When a

device's earbud is inserted into your ear, it's possible to hear echos, or a tunneling sensation as well as poor

sound quality of your own voice.

However, many styles of hearing aids keep the ear canal slightly open to allow natural sound

and air stream into your canal and avoid the plugged up feel of

occlusion.

It is more than the style of the device that

makes it an open ear hearing aid as they also

come in ITE, or in the ear, and other form

factors.

From the onset, manufacturers design the in-ear portions of

the device to keep part of the ear unblocked.

This is more a function of the shape of the

device rather than it's electronic features.

Relatively new, open-fit devices have only been

around since 2005, though the styles superior features

are will likely have an industry-wide effect, making open ear hearing aids the de

facto design for listening instruments.