Hearing Aid Styles

In-The-Ear (ITE) Hearing Instruments

These are custom made devices that house all of the hearing instrument’s components in a unit – or “shell” – that fits within the ear. You may be offered one of the following:

  • CIC

    Completely-In-the-Canal: Fits deeply inside your ear canal

    Hearing Aid – Completely In The Canal (CIC)

  • ITC

    In-The-Canal: Small enough to fit almost entirely in your ear canal

    Hearing Aid – In The Canal (ITC)

  • ITE

    In-The-Ear: Full Shell, made to fit within the external ear

    Hearing Aid – In The Ear (ITE) Full Shell

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Instruments

Components in these instruments are contained in the housing that rests behind the ear, connected by a thin tube to a custom ear mold or tip. Bellow are some samples:

  • BTE

    Behind-The-Ear: Fits snugly behind the ear and is attached to a custom ear piece

    Hearing Aid - Behind The Ear (BTE)

  • Open Fit

    Ultra thin tubing is virtually invisible

    Hearing Aid – Receiver In The Canal (RIC) Open Fit

  • RIC

    Receiver-In-the-Canal: The smallest BTE instrument

    Hearing Aid – Receiver In The Canal (RIC) Open Fit