Choosing a Hearing Aid

There are several types of hearing aids available today, each with different benefits, tradeoffs, and styles.

Choosing the right option means considering your hearing needs, preferred features, comfort and appearance, and budget.

Scroll down to explore the most common hearing aid styles and find links to trusted sites for more detailed explanations.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE)

• Worn: Behind the ear

• Features: Tubing routes sound into an earmold or dome

• Best for: Mild to profound hearing loss

• Pros:

  • Powerful amplification

  • Easy to handle

  • Great for kids

• Variants: Mini BTE / Open Fit

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) / Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE)

• Worn: Behind the ear, with a wire to a speaker in the canal

• Best for: Mild to severe hearing loss

• Pros:

  • Discreet and modern look

  • Clear sound quality

  • Replaceable speaker unit

In-the-Ear (ITE)

• Worn: Custom-molded to fit outer ear

• Best for: Mild to severe hearing loss

• Pros

  • Easy to insert

  • Larger size = more features

  • Good for those with dexterity issues

In-the-Canal (ITC)

• Worn: Partially in the ear canal

• Best for: Mild to moderate hearing loss

• Pros:

  • Smaller and more discreet

  • May include volume control

  • More natural feel

Completely-in-Canal (CIC)

• Worn: Deep in the ear canal

• Best for: Mild to moderate hearing loss

• Pros:

  • Nearly invisible

  • Less wind noise

• Cons:

  • Shorter battery life

  • Limited features due to size

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)

• Worn: Deepest fit inside canal

• Best for: Mild to moderate hearing loss

• Pros:

  • Truly invisible

  • Uses natural ear acoustics

• Cons:

  • Tiny battery

  • May not fit all ears