Your technology was carefully fit to your unique hearing lifestyle — but what if your life has changed?
Have you taken up the guitar? Have you started a fledgling but busy online shop selling your handmade scarves and hats? Maybe it’s time to consider whether your technology is still a good fit for your hearing lifestyle.
But navigating the myriad options out there can be daunting — this one looks like a surprised face, that one looks like it’s from a sci-fi movie, and that other one just looks like a lump. What are all these devices, and which one might be best for you? We’ve compiled a list of common hearing aid types to help you answer those questions.
Behind the Ear
Behind-the-Ear hearing aids (BTEs) have custom earpieces that are molded to fit your ear for a natural, comfortable fit. In BTEs, both the microphone and speaker are housed in a case behind the ear, with sound traveling to the ear canal through a thin translucent tube.
Advantages of BTEs include:
- The most flexible fitting type, available with all technology options
- The widest range of programming options
- Wireless connectivity available
- Midsize battery offers life up to 7 days
Receiver in the Canal
Receiver-in-CanaI devices (RICs) have a speaker that’s placed in the ear canal and is mounted to a comfortable, flexible dome to allow sound to pass more naturally through the ear canal. This style cuts down on wind noise and eliminates the need for acoustic tubing, such as the kind used in BTEs. RIC devices are barely visible to the eye when worn, with just a tiny case tucked behind the ear.
Advantages of RICs include:
- Lightweight, stylish design
- Flexible fitting means most repairs can be made the same day
- Open fitting for comfort and more natural sound, perfect for nearly any type of hearing loss
In the Canal
In-the-Canal hearing aids (ITCs) sit just inside the opening of the ear, providing comfortable, discreet assistance for people with all types of treatable hearing loss. ITCs won’t interfere with wearing glasses and offer all the benefits of a personalized, custom fit.
Advantages of ITCs include:
- Custom molded for a precision fit
- Easy to insert and remove
- Available with external controls
- Larger battery for long battery life
Completely in the Canal
Completely-in-Canal hearing aids (CICs) are custom molded to fit deeply in the ear canal, so they are among the least visible types of hearing aids. Their deep placement also cuts down on wind noise that can occur with certain types of devices. CICs are available with external controls and Bluetooth® technology, so your devices communicate not only with your personal electronics (like your smartphone) but with one another to improve performance.
Advantages of CICs include:
- Nearly invisible
- Secure fit for activities
- Available with Bluetooth® wireless technology
Invisible in the Canal
Invisible-in-Canal hearing aids (IICs) are available for all but the most severe types of hearing loss. These tiny, custom-molded, powerful devices sit deep within your ear canal and will be noticed only by someone who knows you’re wearing them.
Advantages of IICs include:
- Most invisible, discreet option
- Most secure fit for physical activity
- Deep fit that helps reduce occlusion (that “plugged-up” feeling)
Full Shell In the Ear
Full Shell In-the-Ear hearing aids (Full Shell ITEs) sit comfortably in the external ear, just outside the canal, so they are easy to insert and remove and won’t interfere with wearing glasses. They are custom molded to fit the external contours of the ear, they have a larger battery size for a longer battery life, and they are effective and convenient for people with all types of treatable hearing loss.
Advantages of Full Shell ITEs include:
- Easiest style to insert and remove
- Available with external controls
- Large battery type is easiest to handle and provides longest battery life
Half Shell In the Ear
Half Shell In-the-Ear hearing aids (Half Shell ITEs) sit comfortably but snugly in your external ear, just outside the canal, so they are easy to insert and remove and won’t interfere with wearing glasses. They cover only the bottom half of your ear opening, so they’re not quite as easy to insert and remove as the Full Shell ITE. They are custom molded to fit the external contours of the ear, they have a larger battery size for a longer battery life, and they are effective and convenient for people with all types of treatable hearing loss.
Advantages of Half Shell ITEs include:
- One of the easiest styles to insert and remove
- Available with external controls
- More discreet than the Full Shell ITE
- Large battery type is easiest to handle and provides longest battery life
Contact us to set up a demonstration of your preferred style of hearing technology!