Hearing instruments come in many different sizes and styles. The style of hearing aid that will work best varies across patients due to amount of hearing loss, lifestyle, shape of the ear and ear canal as well as dexterity of the hands.
Your hearing healthcare professional will assist you in finding the appropriate hearing aid for you.
Behind the Ear (BTE)
Behind-the-ear
These instruments are worn placed over the ear and are connected to an earpiece by a piece of tubing. The circuitry and electronics in a BTE aid are housed in the plastic casing that sits behind the wearer’s ear. BTE aids can fit a wide range of hearing losses and can provide more amplification and flexibility than the smaller hearing aids due to a stronger amplifier and larger battery. BTE instruments can also provide access to multiple programs and a telecoil. Under the BTE category is Open Fit technology, created and first implemented by ReSound. Open Fit instruments provide the most natural sound quality because they leave your ear canal unoccluded, or open. With Open Fit instruments, you will not feel like you are stuffed up or talking with your head in a barrel.
Receiver in the Ear (RIE)
Reciever-In-The-Canal hearing aid
RIE instruments fit behind the ear like a typical BTE instrument but are more cosmetically appealing. Due to a much smaller size, these hearing aids are discreet and comfortable. RIE aids have a very thin piece of tubing that is connected to a small dome or custom earpiece that fits inside the ear canal. RIE aids can fit a variety of hearing losses and can allow the user to use multiple programs.
Full shell hearing aid
In the Ear (ITE)/Full Shell (FS)
These custom designed aids fill up the bowl of the ear and fit inside the ear canal. Full shell ITEs provide access to telecoil and multiple listening programs and are typically for hearing losses ranging from mild to moderately-severe.
Half Shell ITE (HS)
hearing aids are slightly smaller than a full shell instrument. It can provide access to telecoil and multiple listening programs. The half shell is typically for hearing losses ranging from mild to moderately-severe.
In the Canal (ITC)
ITC instruments are slightly smaller than the Half Shell and fit into the ear canal. This style provides access to multiple listening programs and is appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses.
In-the-canal hearing aid
Completely in the Canal (CIC)
Completely-In-The-Canal Hearing Aid
These aids are currently the smallest custom designed hearing aid available. CICs fit completely inside the ear canal and can be virtually invisible. These aids are restricted to individuals that have ear canals that are large enough to accommodate the aid and all its circuitry. Often, these devices are limited in the number of programs and options. They are most appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses.
Invisible Open Technology or Remote Microphone Technology (IOT)
Invisible Open Technology
These hearing instruments fit discreetly inside the ear canal while a thin microphone tube traces the natural contour of the external ear. It is virtually invisible when worn. By moving the microphone from the hearing instrument body and placing it in the upper part of the ear, IOT instruments eliminate virtually all wind noise and provide a unique sound quality. IOT instruments can fit mild to moderate hearing losses. (Pictures of the different styles should be added)
