[Hearing aid treatment with in-the-ear hearing aids]

The market share of the In-the-ear hearing aids in the United States of America, which increased more than 50% last year, points to a possible comparable development in the Federal Republic of Germany, where the 1983 quotas were below 4%. Those who are responsible for the supply of hearing aids should pay more attention to imparting more information on the technique, adaption and further aspects of In-the-ear hearing aids. After outlining the various forms of In-the-ear hearing aids (modular, custom-made, ear-channel apparatuses) initial experiences with In-the-ear hearing aids are reported together with technical points and questions of adaption. Our research results based on localisation tests, discrimination scores in quiet and noisy surroundings, and a questionnaire to compare In-the-ear with Behind-the-ear hearing aids, confirm the results communicated in other publications. Apart from the various positive aspects, which favour a more frequent use of In-the-ear hearing aids, their limitations are also pointed out and discussed.