Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing aids are avaible in a variety of styles from Behind-The-Ear to Completely-In-The-Canal.  The style of hearing aid that is recommended depends on several factors including: the results of the hearing evaluation, the size and shape of your ear canal, manual dexterity, visual acuity, and the situations where you have the most difficulty hearing.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
The traditional Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aid requires two separate pieces: the hearing aid which hides behind the ear, and the custom earmold.  The hearing aid houses the electronic components (microphone, amplifier, circuitry, and the receiver or loudspeaker).  The hearing aid is coupled by tubing to the earmold which helps to hold the hearing aid in place and also directs the sounds into the ear canal.  BTE hearing aids are just as technologically advanced as smaller hearing aids, and may be appropriate for almost any degree and configuration of hearing loss.

Advantages: appropriate choice for infants through adults, particularly those with reduced manual dexterity or visual impairment.  BTE hearing aids can be fitted to virtually any degree and configuration of hearing loss.  This style is also FM compatible and less susceptible to wax and moisture problems compared with In-The-Ear styles.
Disadvantages: the BTE may be slightly more visable when worn compared to other styles.  Also some report more wind noise compared to In-The-Ear hearing aids where the microphone is more protected by the external ear from the wind.

Open Fit Behind-The-Ear

Many individuals with high-frequency hearing loss report feeling "plugged" when wearing traditional hearing aids. Open Fit BTE hearding aids have revolutionized the treatment of high-frequency hearing loss by leaving the ear canal virtually open to reduce or even eliminate the "plugged" or "head-in-barrel" sensation experienced by many hearing aid wearers. An Open Fit BTE requires a small behind-the-ear hearing aid connected to a thin tube that directs the sound into the ear canal without the use of a bulky or occlusive custom earmold.

In-The-Ear (ITE)
With In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids, all of the electronic components are placed into a plastic shell that is custom-fit to the bowl-shaped area of the ear.  ITE hearing aids are appropriate for mild to severe hearing loss.  In-The-Ear styles are not typically recommended for young children due to rapid changes in the size and shape of the external ear as they grow.  It is much more expensive to recase an ITE hearing aid than to make a new earmold.

Advantages: This style is more powerful than the other small styles that are fitted into the ear canal.  Typically, a larger battery is used which provides better battery life and which makes changing the battery easier than with smaller styles.

Disadvantages:  ITE hearing aids are more suspetible to wax and moisture problems when compared to BTE hearing aids.  Some individuals experience more occlusion or a feeling of being "plugged up" than with the BTE style.

In-The-Canal (ITC)
This style of hearing aid is custom-fit to the canal portion of the ear, and is smaller and less visable than the full-shell ITE.  ITC hearing aids can accomodate mild to severe hearing loss, and are not recommended for children.

Advantages: many patients find the ITC to be more cosmetically appealing than larger styles of hearing aids.  This style can accomodate important features such as a volume control wheel, push-button for changing listening programs, and directional microphones for better hearing in a background of noise.

Disadvantages: because of their small size, ITC hearing aids can be difficult for some patients to handle and to insert into the ear.  This style uses a smaller battery which results in more frequent battery changes.  Like the ITE, wax and moisture can be problematic.

Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
The CIC is the smallest hearing aid available and is made to fit deep inside the ear canal.  This style usually requires a thin, clear filament line so that the wearer can remove the aid from the canal.  It's small size and ability to hide deep inside the ear canal make this a cosmetically appealing style.  The CIC is most appropriate for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Advantages: Many hearing aid wearers feel that the CIC is one of the least visible styles of hearing aids.  With the microphone placement deep inside the ear canal, the hearing aid is able to capitalize on the natural acoustic resonance of the external ear, and is less susceptable to wind noise.

Disadvantages: Because of small size and power limitations, the CIC is not an appropriate choice for severe to profound hearing loss.  This style uses the smallest hearing aid battery, and therefore may have reduced battery life compared to other styles.  Also, because of size limitations, options such as volume control wheels, push-buttons for multiple listening programs, and directional microphones for better hearing in a background of noise may not be available.  Patients with limited manual dexterity may have difficulty inserting and removing the hearing aid from the ear, and may have difficulty changing the battery.  Also, wax and moisture can be problematic, and some individuals report feeling "plugged up" while wearing CIC hearing aids.