Hearing aids: types, how to choose and the adaptation period

Hearing aids: what they are

A hearing aid is an electronic device that captures ambient sound, amplifies it and delivers it in a way tailored to each person's hearing loss. It does not cure the ear; it compensates for a deficit so that speech becomes intelligible again, especially in noise. The most common cause in adults is presbycusis — age-related hearing loss — which sets in gradually, affects high-pitched sounds first and is most noticeable when several people speak at once. Only a professional can identify the exact cause.

A hearing aid does not give you a new ear: it restores access to sounds the brain had stopped hearing, provided you give it time to relearn how to process them.

Recognising hearing loss

Hearing loss often creeps in so slowly that the person is the last to notice. Warning signs include:

• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, especially on the phone.
• Turning the television up louder than others need.
• Struggling to follow conversation in noise (restaurants, meetings).
• Hearing speech but not understanding the words clearly.
• Unusual fatigue after a day of listening, or growing social isolation.

In children, delayed speech or attention difficulties can also signal a hearing problem, and early detection matters.

The care pathway

The order varies with local regulations, but the outline is consistent.

Medical consultation

The starting point is usually a consultation, often with an ENT doctor, who rules out treatable causes (earwax, infection) and confirms the indication for a hearing aid when justified.

The audiogram

The audiogram is the reference test. Carried out in a soundproof booth, it maps the level at which each ear perceives different frequencies and how well the person understands words. This map guides every setting.

Fitting with the audiologist

The audiologist (hearing-aid specialist) analyses the audiogram, lifestyle and expectations, takes an ear-canal impression if needed and proposes one or more models. A trial period often allows real-world testing before a decision.

The main families of devices

All hearing aids share the same principle but differ in format and discretion.

• Behind-the-ear (BTE): the body sits behind the ear; robust, easy to handle, suitable across a wide range of losses, slightly more visible.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC): a modern BTE with the receiver in the canal, making the body thinner and more discreet, with natural sound; its in-canal parts are more exposed to wax and moisture.
• In-the-ear (ITE/CIC): housed entirely in the ear; very discreet but needs a wide-enough canal and suits mild to moderate losses.

| Device type | Best-suited profile | |---|---| | Behind-the-ear (BTE) | Mild to severe loss; easy handling, robustness | | Receiver-in-canal (RIC) | Mild to severe loss; discretion and natural sound | | In-the-ear (ITE/CIC) | Mild to moderate loss; invisibility, suitable canal |

There is no single "best" device — only the one that matches the measured loss, dexterity, lifestyle and budget, a trade-off the audiologist helps to weigh.

Adaptation takes weeks

This is the most underestimated point. After months or years of muffled sound, the brain must relearn to process information it had set aside. The audiologist rarely delivers the target amplification straight away: it is increased in steps across fitting appointments, while regular wear — a little longer each day — speeds up the habituation. Finding your own voice strange at first is normal and fades with adjustments.

Upkeep

A well-maintained device lasts longer: wipe the body, clear wax from the tips, change filters, protect from moisture and heat, and store it open or on its charger overnight. Periodic checks with the audiologist verify the settings, as hearing can change over time.

For the professional

For audiologists and ENT doctors, fitting quality rests largely on regular follow-up: appointment scheduling, a history of settings, audiogram changes and trial notes. Practice-management software like Cabdivin centralises this record, schedules fitting appointments with reminders and keeps track of every adjustment. Its features — calendar, patient record and reports — structure this follow-up without adding admin (free 14-day trial, no credit card). For patients, the Cabdivin directory helps find a practitioner in Morocco.

Key takeaway

Faced with hearing loss, often from presbycusis, fitting follows a clear path: medical consultation, audiogram, then choosing a hearing aid with the audiologist among the main families — BTE, RIC, in-the-ear. What matters most is the adaptation period: gradual settings over several weeks, close follow-up and regular upkeep. For hearing professionals, Cabdivin structures this follow-up. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.