Hearing Aid Styles

Individual Solutions for Every Individual

There are five basic styles of hearing aids for people with hearing loss. Click on the hearing aid styles below for a description of each, along with the pros and cons of each type, and for whom they are best suited.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
In-The-Ear (ITE)
In the Canal (ITC)
Completely-In-Canal (CIC)
Open Fitting

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)

This type of aid consists of the device itself which sits behind the ear, a custom ear mold which sits inside the ear, and a small clear flexible tube that connects the aid to the earmold. Some of the pros and cons are as follows:

Advantages:

1. This style can be fit to the widest range of hearing losses.
2. It can come with a larger number of features than other styles.
3. It has larger batteries and controls, making it easier to use for someone with vision or dexterity problems.
4. It has the lowest chance of causing acoustic feedback or “whistling”.
5. It has relatively low visibility, depending on the hairstyle worn.
6. It is larger and harder to misplace.

Disadvantages:

1. Requires a little more maintenance than other styles because the tubing needs periodic changing (approximately every six months or so) and a new mold.
2. May be more difficult to put on if manual dexterity is limited.
3. May be more visible if the ears are small or hair is very short.
4. Requires slightly different positioning of the telephone receiver.

Most Suitable For People Who:

1. Have severe-to-profound hearing loss or a steeply sloping audiometric hearing loss pattern.
2. Have widely fluctuating hearing levels.
3. Need the additional features.
4. Prefer this aid’s style/appearance to other styles ( TOP ).

In-The-Ear (ITE)

This type of aid and those that follow are housed completely within the outer ear. There are no separate attachments or other parts behind the ear. Some pros and cons of this style are:

Advantages:

1. No tubes/earmolds to periodically replace.
2. Relatively long battery life.
3. Can be used with a wide range of hearing losses.
4. Can be made with more features than smaller styles.
5. The telephone receiver can be held in the usual manner.
6. Lowest cost of all ITE hearing aid styles.
7. Easier to place in the ear and change the battery than other smaller styles.

Disadvantage:

1. More visible than other ITE styles.

Most Suitable For People Who:

1. Have as much as a moderate to severe hearing loss .
2. Prefer its style/appearance over that of other models .
3. Need the additional features ( TOP ).

In-The-Canal (ITC)

An ITC hearing aid is about one-half the size of the ITE. It can be used for mild to moderate hearing losses.

Advantages:

1. Less visible than the ITE style.
2. Still able to get a number of features.

Disadvantages:

1. It has a slightly shorter battery life than the BTE and ITE styles.
2. It may be more expensive than the ITE style .

Most Suitable For People Who:

1. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument than the ITE style.
2. Have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss ( TOP ).

Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)

The CIC aid fits completely within the ear canal and is the least visible of all the styles.

Advantages:

1. It fits a wide range of hearing losses.
2. It is virtually invisible and therefore the most cosmetically appealing instrument.
3. It is the best choice for telephone use because it has the least chance of feedback.
4. The microphone is located in a more natural sound-gathering position (at or slightly inside the ear canal opening) which allows the outer ear to provide more high-frequency emphasis and enhanced localization.
5. It requires less overall power because of the close proximity of the receiver to the eardrum.

Disadvantages:

1. It has a somewhat shorter battery life (5-7 days).
2. The smaller battery size may make battery changes difficult if manual dexterity is limited.
3. Ear wax can frequently plug the receiver.
4. It may cost more than other styles.
5. Patients may experience more occlusion, a sensation of "talking in a barrel", or hearing their own voice as unusually loud.

Most Suitable For People Who:

1. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument .
2. Use the telephone often and need amplification for telephone conversation.
3. Want to maximize the outer ear’s sound gathering and localization ( TOP ).

Open Fitting

Open fitting hearing aids are worn behind the ear and have a clear tube that goes into the ear canal. A probe on the end brings the sound into the ear canal.

Advantages:

1. It works with the natural shape of the ear to amplify sound.
2. Because it does not plug up the ear canal, it sounds more natural.
3. It is less conspicuous than most other styles and more comfortable.
4. Patients can use the telephone without any problems.

Disadvantages:

1. It may cost more than other styles

Most Suitable For People Who:

1. Have a high frequency hearing loss.
2. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument.
3. Use the telephone often and need amplification for telephone conversation.
4. Are bothered by the occlusion effect ( TOP ).