Open fit

This type of behind-the-ear hearing aid keeps the ear canal open. A narrow tube goes into the ear canal. This lets low-frequency sounds, such as barking dogs and lawn mowers, enter the ear on their own.

The hearing aid makes high-frequency sounds, such as children's voices, louder as they come through the hearing aid. An open-fit hearing aid may be a good choice for people with better low-frequency hearing and mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss.

An open-fit hearing aid:

• Most often is harder for others to see than are behind-the-ear models.
• Doesn't fill the ear like the in-the-ear hearing aid styles do. This may make your voice sound better to you.
• May be harder to put into the ear because it's not custom fitted.