Dramatically different from previous designs, Open-Ear-Fittings have set a new standard for aesthetics. Designed for both looks and comfort, these devices integrate some of the most sophisticated sound processing technology available today. An ultra thin sound tube connects the hearing aid amplifier to a tiny soft dome placed inside the ear canal which keeps the ear feeling ventilated and comfortable. Benefits Appearance Appearance is a major issue with most hearing instrument wearers. Improvements in miniaturisation have resulted in some
very small instruments being developed. Most women are able to hide their hearing instruments under their hair, so the only
part visible was the thick tube and ear mould. Now they don’t need to even worry about that, as the ear mould is no longer
required and the tubing is so thin it looks like a fine hair. No occlusion In the past, the necessity of solid ear moulds to prevent whistling meant the ear was plugged resulting in occlusion, a feeling of having your ears blocked and your voice echoing inside your head as though you were talking inside a barrel. New software to minimize feedback has resulted in Open-Ear-Fittings where the ear is kept totally open. No loss of natural hearing Ear moulds typically block some natural sound from entering the ear, thus in a sense making the hearing condition worse.
With open fits the ear is kept totally open allowing the wearer to hear as they would normally without a hearing
instrument. Now the hearing instrument only needs to focus on correcting the original hearing loss. More comfort The small light size of the hearing instrument and the lack of an ear mould adds immensely to the comfort. Fewer medical limitations Due to medical conditions many people could not wear hearing instruments without exacerbating their medical condition. Typical examples included ear infections, discharging, itchiness, dryness, eczema and dermatitis. Most of these conditions required the ear to be open to allow the ear to breathe. Perfect for narrow canals Some ear canals are so small it is impossible to fit an ear mould. These ears are perfect for open fits as they only need to accommodate a thin tube and dome. Further advancements The original OEFs were fairly basic devices with few features. The latest models come fully loaded with a full complement of features found in much larger Behind-The-Ear devices. Phonak’s Audeo and Exelia models are prime examples of state-of-the-art technology in OEFs.
CRT instruments are typically smaller, yet provide more clarity, as the sound is produced close to the ear drum, rather than having to acoustically travel along the thin tube. Should it be required, the speaker can be easily removed and replaced with a more powerful one, thus providing maximum flexibility and extending the viable life of the aid. Both the OEFs and CRTs can be fitted to moderately severe losses by utilising a miniature custom open ear mould rather than a dome. It is best to discuss these options with one of our Audiologists to determine what is best for you. |
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Open-Fit devices come in a variety of shapes and colours.
Most don’t resemble a traditional hearing aid which is one of the reasons they have become so well accepted.
Two different types of Open-Fit instruments now exist, the original OEFs with the speaker inside the
hearing instrument casing and a hollow tube though which the sound travels, and the newer models with a wire running though
the tube to the speaker at the end of the tube, known as Canal Receiver Technology (CRT).