Air-conduction hearing aids transmit amplified sound to the inner ear through air conduction, passing through the external auditory canal, eardrum, and ossicular chain. They are convenient to use, non-invasive, and represent the most widely adopted method for enhancing sound perception in individuals with hearing impairments. With the rapid development of modern information technology and the chip industry, analog air-conduction hearing aids have been largely phased out. Currently, digital hearing aids with advanced programming capabilities dominate both domestic and international markets. Air-conduction hearing aids expand the auditory dynamic range of patients, improve auditory comfort, enhance signal amplification for low-intensity input, and increase sound signal resolution. They also attenuate background noise in noisy environments, improving speech signal clarity and enabling hearing-impaired individuals to perceive speech more clearly even in noisy conditions.
Types
Air-conduction hearing aids are suitable for individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss and are effective in improving auditory and speech communication in noisy environments. Based on size, discreteness, programmability, and sound amplification capabilities, air-conduction hearing aids are categorized into different types. Major types, arranged from largest to smallest in size and according to wearing style, include behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-canal (CIC) air-conduction hearing aids.
Additional Features
Air-conduction hearing aids include functions such as noise reduction, wireless transmission, Bluetooth connectivity, and tinnitus management. With advancements in mobile internet and artificial intelligence technologies, air-conduction hearing aids are increasingly equipped with features for tracking and recording physical health data. For BTE and ITE hearing aids, dual microphones are a standard configuration. The use of dual microphones helps apply noise reduction algorithms to filter and diminish background noise. Many air-conduction hearing aids also support wireless functionality, allowing sound received by one hearing aid to be automatically transmitted to both ears using FM or Bluetooth technology.
Modern air-conduction hearing aids support advanced programming to improve speech perception in varying noise environments, enhance a sense of auditory directionality, and reduce acoustic feedback noise. Research has shown that wearing hearing aids not only improves auditory and speech communication for some patients but also effectively alleviates tinnitus symptoms.