You don’t have to settle or be limited to one style. There are various hearing aid styles for every type and degree of hearing loss. The choices vary for needs including comfort, function, features, connectivity, and design. Some models are fit to be worn inside the bowl of the ear, some are inserted into the ear canals, and some are positioned behind the ear. The trend is for more discreet, well-fitting hearing devices which are comfortable while meeting the needs for amplification. The hearing aid selection process can be challenging, so our team at the Austin Hearing Aid Center is ready to assist you. With the help of our audiologists, it will be easier for you to review and weigh the features that are most relevant to your specific hearing needs and lifestyle. Since hearing aids are expected to be worn for many hours in a day, we couldn’t emphasize enough the importance of finding a hearing aid that would best match your hearing needs and preference.

Available Styles:

Invisible in canal (IIC)

IICs are the smallest hearing aid style, custom-molded to fit inside the opening of each ear, in the ear canal. This style of hearing aid is discreet and the most hidden by the shadow of the opening of each ear canal, so it is one of the least seen by others.

Completely in canal (CIC)

CICs are molded to fit inside the ear canal and sit slightly out from IICs. It’s ideal for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. This is the smallest and least visible type and is less likely to pick up wind noise. Since it is very tiny, it also has very small batteries, which have a shorter life span compared to bigger batteries. Additionally, it may also skip extra features like directional microphones or volume control.

In the ear (ITE)

ITEs can be custom made in two styles – half shell or full shell. Both are ideal for adults with mild to severe hearing loss and are available with directional microphones for better hearing in noise. ITEs may have features that are not available on smaller style hearing aids, such as volume control. Since these devices are larger, they are easier to handle and have larger batteries for longer battery life. Users can also opt for models with rechargeable batteries. ITE hearing aids may pick up more wind noise than smaller hearing aids and are more visible in the ear.

Behind the ear (BTE)

BTEs sit over the pinna, and rest behind the outer ear. A custom earpiece (earmold) is fit inside the ear canal and connected to the hearing aid by a tube. BTE hearing aids are versatile, appropriate for people of all ages and with almost any type and degree of hearing loss. Behind-the-ear hearing aids are a larger style than others, although the newer designs are more streamlined and fit the contour of the outer ear. They come with directional microphones and have more amplification than other hearing aid styles. Depending on the brand, BTEs may be available with rechargeable batteries.

Receiver in canal (RIC) / Receiver in the ear (RITE)

In terms of the speaker/receiver, RIC and RITE hearing aid styles are similar to behind-the-ear hearing aids, since they both are fit over the outer ear, and rest behind the pinna. However, instead of a tube, a tiny wire connects the piece behind the ear to the receiver (speaker). Compared to BTE hearing aids, RICs and RITEs have a less visible portion. These hearing aid models have directional microphones, manual control options and may be powered with rechargeable batteries.

Open-fit

Open-fit hearing aids are another variation of BTE hearing aids with thin tubing or RICs or RITEs with an open ear dome. This style allows the ear canal to be very open, allowing high-frequency sounds to be amplified through the hearing aid and low frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally. Open-fit are a good choice for people with mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss and better low-frequency hearing. Unlike ITE styles, open-fit hearing aids do not close off the ear canals, making the wearer’s own voice sound better without any distortion.