Hearing Aids Two Ways

The Different Types And Styles Of Hearing Aids

by | Sep 24, 2021 | Hearing Aids, Patient Resources

You’ve reached the point when you either want to get a hearing aid for the first time, or you’d like to upgrade the one you have. Either way, our team at Ascent Audiology & Hearing is here to help.

The first thing we’d like to make clear is that we don’t recommend any one brand in particular, because each brand and model has its own features and abilities that might work best for your hearing needs – your lifestyle, budget, aesthetic preferences, and degree and type of hearing loss.

Types Of Hearing Aids

In short, there are two ways to wear hearing aids: in the ear or outside the ear. Inside these two categories, you’ll find plenty of options. Here’s the very short version.

In The Ear Hearing Aids

Invisible:

Invisible in the canal (IIC) – practically invisible, for mild to moderate hearing loss
Completely in the canal (CIC) – almost invisible, for mild to moderate hearing loss

Visible:

Visible outside the canal or in the ear (ITC) – for mild to mildly severe hearing loss
Visible in the ear (low profile) – for mildly severe to severe hearing loss

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Receiver in the ear or canal (RITE OR RIC) – the earmold is behind the ear, for mild to moderate hearing loss

Open fit (Mini BTE) – the open earbud sits in the ear canal, for mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss

Receiver behind the ear (BTE) – designed for people with severe hearing loss

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Once you narrow things down regarding visibility and your type of hearing loss, there are a number of other pros and cons to factor in.

In The Ear Hearing Aids

Type

Pros

Cons

Invisible in the canal (IIC)
  • Almost invisible
  • App controlled
  • Quality sound
  • Needs regular cleaning of earwax and checks for moisture damage
  • Bluetooth connection to app not always reliable
Completely in the canal (CIC)
  • Almost invisible
  • App controlled
  • Quality sound
  • Needs regular cleaning of earwax and checks for moisture damage
  • Bluetooth connection to app not always reliable
  • More dexterity required for insertion
Visible outside the canal or in the ear (ITC)
  • Visible
  • App controlled
  • Additional features
  • Long battery life
  • Needs regular cleaning of earwax and checks for moisture damage
  • Bluetooth connection to app not always reliable
  • More dexterity required if manual aid is chosen
Visible in the ear (low profile) (ITE)
  • Good for those with manual dexterity difficulties
  • Manually controlled
  • No difficulty wearing glasses or oxygen cannulas
  • Visible
  • Can come out if very active
  • More features to use

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Type

Pros

Cons

Receiver in the ear or canal (RITE OR RIC)
  • Multiple choices
  • App controlled
  • High-quality sound
  • Rechargeable option
  • Telecoil/meeting room options
  • Manual dexterity difficult on the smaller aids
  • Speaker needs regular cleaning of earwax and checks for moisture damage
  • Microphone and sound processor are visible
Receiver behind the ear (BTE)
  • Multiple choices
  • Additional features
  • Long battery charge
  • Reprogrammable
  • Earmold is custom fit and replaceable
  • Less likely to suffer from moisture damage
  • Best for children
  • Microphone and sound processor are visible
  • Difficult to also wear glasses with it in place
Open fit (Mini BTE)
  • Smaller and less obvious than a BTE
  • No earmold – open earbud rests in the ear canal
  • Earbud can be custom formed
  • Manual dexterity difficult on the smaller aids
  • Speaker needs regular cleaning of earwax and checks for moisture damage

Choosing What’s Important

While most people state that the visibility of the hearing aid is their number one priority when making a purchase, other features can be even more important.

How easy is it to clean the hearing aid, how well will it stay on during sports activities, and how long will the batteries last for?

Another important consideration is whether the user will be able to use the app or if it would be easier to use manual settings. One might not work for non-tech-savvy people, while a manual aid might be difficult for someone with manual dexterity difficulties.

Does it do a good job of quietening background noise? Are the batteries easy to change or is it rechargeable? Can the earmold be replaced separately?

Is the wearer called on to attend meetings in conference rooms and hotel rooms, where telecoil might be set up and can be connected to (a tech solution that cuts out background noise)?

Does the purchase include remote and in-person support? Does it include a maintenance, repairs, and replacement package? Are adjustments included?

Your Hearing Aid Purchase

Here at Ascent Audiology & Hearing — the audiology experts in Glendale, Goodyear, and Surprise — we have decades of knowledge and experience that you can access before making your final decision. And our owner, Daniel Hewson, is a hearing aid wearer himself, so he recommends from personal experience.

Step one is to get a comprehensive hearing assessment to assess your hearing to see if you need hearing treatment. The results and your lifestyle and personal preferences will then guide our recommendations.

Schedule a hearing assessment here so we can call you to mark in the location, appointment time, and day most convenient for you.

Or request a callback so we can answer any questions at all about your hearing aid purchase.

We look forward to helping you get the best hearing aid for you.

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Stacey Sowinski Hearing Instrument Specialist

Stacey is a native Arizonian and loves everything that state has to offer. She has worked in the hearing health industry for the past 7 years and has really loved changing so many people’s lives. Her passion to treat all patients with hearing loss with professionalism and extreme precision comes from her deep desire to make a difference in this world. She loves to see the look on people’s faces the moment they realize what being able to hear again is all about. She is very focused on patient care and determining why so many patients struggle with their hearing loss. Her in-depth view on patient care is unprecedented and her positive outlook is infectious to all that know her and to all of her patients. Stacey is happily married to her husband and they have two amazing children. Her interests outside of work centers around her family and friends. She loves camping, kayaking, hiking, off-roading, and pretty much anything that keeps her outdoors.

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