Digital Hearing Aids by Widex Oticon Phonak Siemens Unitron Bernafon Starkey GN Resound and Bernafon: Hearing Aid Selection Help



	RIC / Receiver-in-the-canal (also RITE) The latest development in digital hearing aids adopting open-fitting technology giving an ultra-smooth sound signal for maximum speech clarity for clients who have a high frequency loss and looking for a discrete comfortable solution. Includes the Widex Passion, Oticon Delta & Epoq, Phonak Audeo, Siemens Pure GN Resound Dot and Starkey Zon.



	OTE / On-the-ear A discreet mini-BTE hearing aid for clients with high frequency hearing loss who miss clarity of speech in group conversations. The original form of open-fitting, whereby we do not block the ear up as with the below forms of hearing aid fitting. Advanced feedback suppression technology avoids irritating whistling typical with vented ITE hearing aids. Includes the Phonak Exelia Micro and Widex M.



	CIC / Completely-in-the-canal The smallest of the in-the-ear hearing aids offering maximum discretion, however, some of the latest digital technology found in equivalent ITE and ITC's is sacrificed due to the small size of these hearing aids. There are now several power CIC's on the market catering for people with severe hearing losses who require cosmetic appearance. These are supplied by Phonak, Unitron and Siemens.



	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 BTE's now have sleeker body's 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.

For the REMOTE MICROPHONE style please see the GN RESOUND page and see this IMAGE.

Other hearing aid solutions are available including Spectacle Hearing Aids, FM systems, and CROS / Bi-CROS Hearing Aids. These require more specialised attention and we would recommend you contact us for a hearing consultation should you wish to know more about these. Please call us on Freephone 0800 077 8248.

Crystal Hearing - Discounted Digital Hearing Aids

We supply all Hearing Aids by Siemens Phonak Oticon Unitron Widex GN Resound Starkey and Bernafon