Hearing aid styles

A style to suit every need

With six styles of hearing aids available (and numerous types of each), knowing which one to choose might seem daunting. That’s where a hearing professional comes in.

They will recommend a style based on important factors like your level of hearing loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs, budget and more.

See below for a short overview of each hearing aid style — but work with your hearing care provider to ensure you get the one that best matches your unique needs.

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Behind-The-Ear (BTE)

A BTE hearing aid houses the hearing components in a casing that rests behind the ear. A clear plastic acoustical tube directs amplified sound into an earbud or a customized earmold that is fitted inside the ear canal. BTEs are the world’s most common hearing aid, are typically the biggest, and are ideal for moderate to severe hearing loss.

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Receiver-In-Canal (RIC)

RIC style hearing aids are instruments where the receiver — or speaker — is inside the ear canal, which is then connected to the main device by a thin electrical wire. Because of this, RICs are typically smaller than BTEs. RIC hearing aids are sleek and stylish, are usually feature packed, and are great options for mild to moderate hearing loss.

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In-The-Ear (ITE)

ITE hearing aids are the biggest of the custom-fit styles. Each ITE is machine-crafted — based on a mold of your ear — with all the components fitting in a plastic casing that then fits smoothly within the outer portion of the ear. ITEs are one of two custom styles big enough to house manual controls, and are used for mild to severe hearing loss.

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In-The-Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids are also custom made based on a mold of your ear. They are smaller than ITEs, with only a small part of the hearing aid shell showing in the outer ear. ITCs come in a variety of faceplate covers, can include manual controls for volume and memory, and are a good custom-fit choice for mild to mildly severe hearing loss.

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Completely-In-Canal (CIC)

CIC hearing aids are custom made to fit completely in your ear canal. Only the tip of a small plastic “handle” shows outside the canal, which is used to insert and remove the instrument. Their small size can pose dexterity challenges. CIC hearing aids are used to help with mild to moderate hearing loss.

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Invisible (IIC)

IIC hearing aids are the smallest, most discreet hearing aids made. This custom-fit style is inserted in the second bend of the ear canal, so it's completely invisible* when worn. A small plastic “handle” lets you remove them daily to promote good ear health. Their deep ear placement mean IICs can’t be worn by everyone, and they’re only used for mild to moderate hearing loss.

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