Choosing the right hearing aid is undoubtedly a difficult decision considering the many different types of hearing aids that are on the market. At Evear Hearing, we are here to break it down and give you more guidance as to which one would be the perfect fit!

All hearing aids use the same basic parts to carry sound from the environment around you into your ear and make them louder. When choosing the right hearing aid, you have to consider several factors including:

The severity of your hearing loss
Your lifestyle
Your manual dexterity

Hearing Aid Styles

Invisible hearing aid (IIC)

A completely in the canal hearing aid is custom-designed to fit inside your ear canal making it invisible. This type of hearing aid is perfect for anyone who lives a moderately to a heavily active lifestyle or simply want your hearing aids to be invisible to the human eye. Although many people prefer to have a hearing aid that is invisible, at Evear Hearing, we do not recommend it to anyone with severe or profound hearing loss since they do not have the same amount of power larger hearing aids do. An example of a completley in the canal hearing aid would be the Phonak Lyric or Starkey Picasso.

Pros

Least noticeable type of hearing aid
Custom made to perfectly fit your ear
Smallest, most discreet hearing aid made

Cons

Not as much power as other hearing aids
No directional microphone (too small)
Short battery life

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

A completely in the canal hearing aid is molded to fit directly in your ear canal. These types of hearing aids are made for anyone experiancing mild to moderate hearing loss.

Pros

Not noticeable – fits deep and tight in the ear
Custom made to perfectly fit your ear
Less sensitive to wind noise

Cons

Short battery life
Not as much power as other hearing aids
No directional microphone ( too small )
May not be comfortable

In the Canal (ITC)

An in the canal custom hearing aid fits in the ear canal however, a smaller portion shows in the outer ear. These hearing aids are good for anyone who wants an easy-to-handle device and have mild/moderate hearing loss. These hearing aids come in different sizes and usually include many different electronic features such as multiple directional microphones.

Pros

Barely visible
Larger units may include directional microphones
Suitable for anyone who wears glasses

Cons

May not be comfortable
Not as much power as other hearing aids

In the Ear (ITE)

In-the-ear hearing aids is a hearing aid that fills most of the concha (bowl-shaped area in of your ear). The biggest benefit of using this type of hearing aid is that it has a longer battery life, which gives the hearing aid more power for severe hearing loss, and an improved operation. In-the-ear hearing aids are good for anyone who wants an easy-to-handle hearing aid and one that has many electronic features – such as multiple directional microphones.

Pros

Custom-fit to your ear
Larger battery life – rechargeable in available select styles
Can include controls for volume that won’t fit on a smaller hearing aid

Cons

Largest of the custom made styles
May pick up more wind noises than smaller custom devices
More visible in the ear than smaller devices

Behind the Ear (BTE)

A behind-the-ear hearing aid hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. All the components of this hearing aid are stored in the plastic case worn behind the ear. The sound gets transmitted to your ear through the tube that connects the case to the receiver and a custom earpiece called an earmold worn inside the ear canal. This type of hearing aid is appropriate for almost any type of hearing loss. Behind-the-ear hearing aids are the world’s most common hearing aid style. An example of this type of hearing aid would be the Phonak.

Pros

Flexible features
Good for someone with severe hearing loss
On larger models, the controls are easy to manipulate
Can be cleaned easily
Feedback is rare since it has a snug fit
Larger battery – longer battery life
Easy to handle

Cons

Some of the custom earmolds are visible (clear ones aren’t)
Not suitable for anyone that wears glasses
Less discreet
Hard to wear with face masks

Receiver in Canal/Reciever in Ear (RIC)

A receiver-in-canal hearing aid is small, discreet, and quick to ft. It is perfect for first-time hearing aid wearers. They are smaller than a regular BTE hearing aid and can be worn comfortably behind the ear. The receiver of the hearing aid is located outside the housing and is placed at the end of a thin wire that is placed near/in the eardrum. An example of a type of hearing aid like this would the Resound ONE.

Pros

Small, unnoticeable casings
The tube is nearly invisible
Larger batteries for longer battery life

Cons

Less discreet than custom styles
Wax and moisture buildup may give the receiver a shorter life

To try on the different hearing aids and pick the perfect one for you, visit our clinic Evear Hearing and our healthcare professionals will be more than happy to go over all the features with you. At Evear Hearing, our goal is to ensure that our clients all walk out with a hearing aid they are comfortable with and enhances their ability to hear and communicate.