Aesthetic appeal?

It’s very interesting to note the visible changes in hearing aids over the last few decades. When I first started practising we fitted pocket aids, which were then followed by behind-the-ear aids (which by this time were almost as powerful).

As time went on we could fit very severe losses with in-the-ear aids, and even completely-in-the-canal aids. These not only were more aesthetically-appealing, but gave an improved sound as they were nearer the eardrum.

About five or six years ago we saw an amazing volte-face in that now we could offer aids which were called 0n-the-ear (OTE), as they sat behind the ear and led the sound through a tube to the ear. They were followed by the receiver-in-the-ear, where the loudspeaker is now in the canal of the ear.

They are certainly evident for all to see in their gaudy colours, so aesthetic appeal cannot feature highly in the mind of the wearer. The truth is that they give a very-natural sound, and this is proving more important than how they look.   GOOD!