Hearing Aid Types
Invisible-in-the-canal
(IIC)
These tiny hearing aids sit hidden in your ear canal and take advantage of the way your ears are naturally designed to gather sound and funnel it into your ear.
They are custom-moulded specially to fit you, and sit well out of the way of glasses, headgear and clothes – making them ideal for active people.
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These ‘invisible’ hearing aids sit far enough in the ear canal that people won’t be able to see them. A thin plastic string remains accessible, which you use to pull the hearing aids out again. These hearing aids have no buttons, so they automatically adjust to your listening environment - which means you don't have to touch them or change their settings during the day, making them hassle-free.
It should be noted that these hearing aids are designed for mild hearing losses only, and for people with wide enough ear canals to accommodate them. They also use batteries that last only 3-5 days.
Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
These hearing aids are slightly larger than Invisible-In-the-Canal hearing aids, and sit completely in the ear canal. Completely-In-the-Canal hearing aids are slightly visible; however, they are well hidden by using colours that match your skin tone.
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Because they are not completely hidden, these are suitable for people who want very discreet hearing aids and want to be able to manually control them using a button.
In-the-ear
(ITE)
These hearing aids are slightly larger and more visible than IIC, CIC or ITC hearing aids. They fit in the bowl of the ear (concha).
However, they are still very discreet and because they are larger than the three smaller types, they can accommodate larger batteries that last longer, more advanced technologies for better sound quality and connectivity to other devices, and more controls such as a wheel to control the volume – which makes them easier to operate manually
Behind-the-ear
(BTE)
Traditional BTE
Traditional BTE: Thicker tubing is used for more stability and power. The tubing can handle the extra sound pressure without dissipating or distorting it.
Standard-tubed BTE’s are the most appropriate fit for profound hearing loss but also work well for mild through severe loss.
Slim-Tubing BTE
Also known as a mini BTE, an open BTE, or an open-ear fit hearing aid. Well-suited for high-frequency hearing loss. With an open tip, the low frequencies escape before getting to the eardrum, thus allowing for a more natural sound for high-frequency loss.
The slim tubing can’t handle as much power as the thicker traditional BTE tubes, so it is better for mild through moderate hearing loss. The discreet fit and size has made the slim-tubing BTE very popular.
Receiver-in-the-ear/canal
(RITE/C)
Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE)
Both these hearing aids are similar to behind-the-ear hearing aids in shape and style, but are smaller because the receiver (or the loudspeaker) is placed in the ear-canal instead of in the housing behind-the-ear.
These hearing aids are most suitable if you have mild to severe hearing loss.
Receiver-in-the-canal (RITC)
With these hearing aids sound is sent directly from the housing behind your ear through a thin wire to the receiver which is in your ear canal.
Not only do they provide outstanding sound, they are discreet, comfortable, fully automatic, can be adjusted manually and connect to all Bluetooth devices.
Here to guide you, every step of the way
Your First
Hearing Aid
So you have completed your hearing test and you need to look at getting your first hearing aid. What happens now? We take you step by step through the process of getting your first hearing aid.
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Your first hearing aid doesn't need to be scary.
