Types of Hearing Aids: Finding Your Fit

There are many types of hearing aids. Which one is best for you depends on your type of hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your manual dexterity. Modern technology has made hearing aids smaller, more powerful, and more intelligent than ever before.

Common Types

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

These are the smallest hearing aids. They fit inside your ear canal and are nearly invisible. They are cosmetically appealing but may be difficult for people with dexterity issues to handle due to their small size and tiny batteries.

In the Canal (ITC)

These sit in the lower part of your outer ear bowl. They are slightly larger than CIC aids and have longer battery life. They can host more features like localized volume control.

In the Ear (ITE)

These fill most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. They are easier to handle and can hold more features, such as telecoils and directional microphones.

Behind the Ear (BTE)

The main body hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind it. A tube connects the aid to a custom earpiece. These are the most powerful type of hearing aid and are suitable for profound hearing loss.

Technology Levels

Beyond the physical style, hearing aids come in various technology levels:

• Basic: Good for one-on-one conversations in quiet environments.
• Advanced: Better at filtering background noise and managing complex listening environments like restaurants.
• Premium: The most sophisticated processing, offering 360-degree sound, wind noise reduction, and seamless connectivity to smartphones and TVs.