Hearing Aids
Behind The Ear (BTE)
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are a common and versatile style where the main body of the device sits behind the ear, connected to an earmold or thin tube that fits inside the ear canal. BTEs are suitable for a wide range of hearing losses and offer various features and power levels.
Receiver In The Canal (RIC)
Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are a discreet and popular style. Similar to BTEs, the main body sits behind the ear, but instead of a traditional earmold, a thin wire connects to a tiny speaker (receiver) that is placed directly in the ear canal.
Completely In The Canal (CIC)
Completely-In-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are among the smallest and most discreet options available. As the name suggests, they fit entirely within the ear canal, making them virtually invisible to others. Due to their small size, they may have fewer features and a shorter battery life compared to larger styles.
Rechargeable CIC
Rechargeable Completely-In-Canal (CIC) hearing aids offer the ultimate in discreetness with the added convenience of rechargeable batteries. Like traditional CICs, they fit entirely within the ear canal, providing a very cosmetically appealing solution. The key advantage here is eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements.
Instant Fit CIC
Instant Fit Completely-In-Canal (CIC) hearing aids aim to provide the discreetness of a traditional CIC with a faster fitting process. Unlike custom-molded CICs, these use pre-sized eartips to fit comfortably in the ear canal right away, often eliminating the wait time for custom molds.
Invisible In The Canal
Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) hearing aids represent the pinnacle of discreetness in hearing technology. These custom-made devices sit even deeper in the ear canal than CICs, placing them very close to the eardrum. This deep placement makes them virtually invisible when worn. IICs often offer natural sound quality due to their proximity to the eardrum.
Rechargeable ITC
Rechargeable In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids strike a balance between discretion and functionality with the added convenience of rechargeable batteries. Sitting partially in the ear canal and partially in the outer ear, ITCs are less visible than BTEs but larger than CICs or IICs, allowing for more features and potentially longer battery life than the smaller completely-in-canal options.