What's Your Style?
Hearing aids come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Some shapes are more appropriate for certain types of hearing loss and your audiologist will walk through everything you need to know about the different options.
Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC)
This is the most common type of hearing aid fit today.
More here >Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC)
RIC devices are the most versatile, comfortable hearing aids available. They are so named because the receiver (speaker) sits inside the ear canal rather than in the case behind your ear. They are nearly invisible and have all the exciting features of modern hearing aid technology and your audiologist has multitudes of options to program the hearing aid just for you.
Available in a variety of colors so it's easy to find one that suits you.
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
Similar to the RIC style, a BTE sits behind the ear but delivers sound via an attached tube and earpiece.
More here >Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
At first glance, a BTE hearing aid can look exactly like a RIC device. They are technologically very similar except a BTE houses the receiver (speaker) in the piece behind your ear, which is unlike the RIC that houses the receiver in the ear canal. BTE devices are versatile and comfortable but tend to be a bit larger than the RIC and some have more powerful speakers.
BTE hearing aids come in a variety of colours so it's easy to find one that suits you!
Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC)
IIC hearing aids are the smallest devices available.
More here >Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC)
The main advantage to an IIC device is the small size, nothing else hides quite so well. It does come with limitations though so be sure to discuss the pros and cons with your audiologist!
In-The-Canal (ITC)
ITC hearing aids offer comfort and ease for insertion and removal.
More here >In-The-Canal (ITC)
These custom made devices have many of the same features as our RIC and BTE devices but differ in the way they sit in the ear. ITC hearing aids are visible in the ear but tend to be easier to insert and remove and therefore useful if you have difficulty moving your fingers or hands.
In-The-Ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids fill up the entire bowl of the ear.
More here >In-The-Ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids are not as often fit as their counterpart devices, mainly because we can fit all that technology into a smaller space so the extra size isn't as often needed. Talk with your audiologist about what style is the perfect fit for you!
