What Style of Hearing Aid I Should Wear?

With so many styles and benefits of hearing aids to choose from, knowing which one is best for you can be hard. If you are thinking about getting one, you may have concerns about if it will work properly or how it will look on you. Although a hearing aid won’t restore normal hearing, it can help improve it. 

When it comes to choosing a hearing aid, it is important to know that they vary in style, size, price and even the way they are placed in your ear. The demand for a discreet hearing aid is high but not all smaller hearing aids have the capability of improving your hearing. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to different hearing aids, and to find out which one is more suitable for you it’s best to speak to your audiologist who will be able to give you further advice and information. Here are some of the common hearing aid styles you can choose from.

Completely in canal (CIC)

This type of hearing aid is the smallest one you can get and is the least visible. A CIC hearing aid can help to improve mild-to-moderate hearing loss and is molded so it fits inside your ear canal. Due to the size of this hearing aid, it requires smaller batteries which have a shorter life that need replacing often. 

A CIC doesn’t come with manual controls such as volume wheels or a directional microphone. The good thing about this type of hearing aid is that it is discreet and rarely picks up wind noise, although they are more susceptible to earwax which can clog up the speaker. 

In the canal (ITC)

An ITC hearing aid is molded to fit partly in the ear canal. They are more comfortable and easier to use, improving mild-to-moderate hearing loss. ITC hearing aids are slightly larger than a CIC so the battery life is longer. 

As an ITC hearing aid is small, it is also susceptible to earwax much like the CIC. The size of this hearing aid can also cause a problem for connectivity to wireless devices which is something to keep in mind.

In the ear (ITE)

These types of hearing aids can be made in two different styles, either filling most of the bowl-shaped outer ear or filling the lower part. An ITE hearing aid can help with mild-to-severe hearing loss and uses a larger battery which means it lasts longer. 

There are disadvantages to this hearing aid, as it’s more likely to pick up wind noise than a smaller aid and it is more visible. However, an ITE hearing aid may be easier for some people to handle and has more features than a smaller one. 

Behind the ear (BTE)

A BTE hearing aid is suitable for all ages and for any type of hearing loss. It hooks over the top of your ear and rests just behind it. A tube is connected from a mold that sits in your ear canal to the hearing aid. This type of aid is one of the largest although there are some new, smaller designs.

If you wear glasses, a BTE hearing aid can get in the way as there is limited space for both, and like an ITE hearing aid, a BTE is likely to pick up more wind noise. 

Receiver in canal (RIC) or receiver in the ear (RITE)

RIC and RITE hearing aids are similar to a BTE in that the receiver sits in the ear canal. The difference is that instead of a tube connecting the piece to the receiver, it’s a small wire. These hearing aids are available with a rechargeable battery and have manual control options. 

A RIC hearing aid has a less visible behind the ear portion and has directional microphones, but it can be susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker. 

Open-fit

An open-fit hearing aid is an excellent choice for people who have low-frequency hearing and mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Although it is a visible hearing aid, it won’t plug your ear like some of the other styles. 

Open-fit hearing aids can make your own voice sound better to you but they can sometimes be difficult to place in your ear, 

Choosing a style of hearing aid can be difficult with so many options available. If you need some assistance in which hearing aid may be best for you, get in touch with Clifton Springs Hearing Center by calling us today at 315-496-4314.