NEW! - IIC / Invisible-In-Canal hearing aids

Custom made in-ear digital hearing aids launched by Starkey in 2010. Extra small and sat deep into the ear canal out of sight. Suited to mild / moderate losses and invisibility aspect is dependent on ear canal size. Available now as Starkey Soundlens, Siemens iMini and Phonak Nano.

In-situ image of a Phonak Nano

RIC / Receiver-in-the-canal (also called RITE)

The latest development in open-ear digital hearing aids solutions. Maximum clarity and comfort with very discreet appearance.

The receiver (the speaker unit) sits in the ear canal and is connect to a very small behind the ear aid via a conductive wire in a very thin tube. This solution has less distortion than the older OTE solution (shown below). Using a custom tip on the end of the speaker we can fit these hearing aids to severe hearing losses.

Images: Widex Passion, Phonak Audeo, Resound Alera

OTE / On-the-ear

The original open-fitting hearing aid solution.

The complete works of the hearing aid (i.e. the microchip, microphone and speaker) is housed behind the ear and is connected to the ear canal via an open slim-tube which the sound is sent down.

Image: Widex M.

CIC / Completely-in-the-canal

Very small and discreet in-ear hearing aids offering excellent discretion. Some of the latest technology found in equivalent model ITE and ITC's is sacrificed due to the small size of these hearing aids (i.e. dual microphones and telecoils).

There are now several power CICs on the market catering for people with severe hearing losses who require cosmetic appearance. Image of CIC.

ITC / In-the-Canal

Slightly larger than the CIC hearing aids but with improved performance for speech in noise due to the extra features available including dual microphones, Bluetooth™ compatibility (such as with the Phonak Exelia, Oticon Epoq and Siemens Pure), and Telecoil loops (for use in churches and theatres).

The ITC and ITE offers easier insertion than the CIC for people with manual dexterity issues.

ITE / In-the-ear

The largest of the in-the-ear hearing aids often called 'full shell' & 'half shell' offering more power for clients with more severe hearing losses who don't want to wear behind the ear hearing aids.

These are less common nowadays with the advent of the more versatile RIC/RITE options and more powerful CIC hearing aids.

BTE / Behind-the-ear

Traditional style hearing aids fitted with an earmould (generally silicone or acrylic) that fills the ear.

Modern BTEs now have sleeker bodies and multi-colour designs such as the Oticon Epoq and the Phonak Micro-Versata and incorporate much higher specification technology than those available from the NHS.

Remote microphone (the Resound BE)

This is a new design offered by GN Resound only with their 'BE' product, which has a small aid sat in the ear canal and a looping microphone wire that sits n the helix of the ear bowl. These offer excellent wind noise proection whilst enhancing localisation and offer a good discreet solution. Not for everyone! Larger image.