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Hearing Aid Styles

Understanding Hearing Aid Styles

A simple, clear guide to finding the perfect fit. Compare sizes, battery types, and features to make the best choice for your hearing and your lifestyle.

Visual diagram showing the different styles and sizes of hearing aids
Smallest Size

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)

The IIC is the smallest hearing aid available. It rests completely hidden deep inside your ear canal, making it virtually undetectable to others.

Why Choose This?

  • Ultimate Cosmetic Appeal: Best for a virtually invisible look.
  • Natural Sound: Utilizes the ear's natural shape.
  • Phone Friendly: Minimal feedback when using telephones.

Limitations to Consider

  • Power: Suitable for mild to moderate loss.
  • Handling: Tiny batteries require steady hands.
  • Technology: Usually no Bluetooth/Wireless.
Highly Discreet

Completely-in-Canal (CIC)

Slightly larger than the IIC, this style sits deeply within the ear canal. It is mostly hidden, with only a tiny removal string visible.

Why Choose This?

  • Great Cosmetics: Very hard for others to notice.
  • Slightly More Power: A versatile middle ground.
  • Wind Noise: Deep placement reduces wind interference.

Limitations to Consider

  • Dexterity: Requires handling small batteries.
  • Wireless Tech: Bluetooth features vary by brand.
  • Microphones: Often limited to a single microphone.
Easier Handling

In-The-Canal (ITC) & Shells

These sit in the lower portion of the outer ear bowl. They come in ITC, Half-Shell, or Full-Shell sizes.

Why Choose This?

  • Easier to Manage: Ideal for limited finger dexterity.
  • More Features: Room for manual volume controls.
  • Dual Microphones: Better performance in noisy backgrounds.

Limitations to Consider

  • Cosmetics: These are visible in the outer ear.
  • Wireless: Standardly features wireless tech.
  • Maintenance: Requires regular wax cleaning.
Most Popular

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC)

The body sits behind the ear, and a barely-visible wire connects to a tiny speaker inside your ear canal.

Why Choose This?

  • Excellent Cosmetics: The wire is almost invisible.
  • Natural Sound: Keeps the ear canal partially open.
  • Rechargeable: Available in high-performance rechargeable models.

Limitations to Consider

  • Dexterity: Placing the small speaker takes a little practice.
  • Wax Buildup: Speaker filters require periodic replacement.
  • Glasses Fit: Sits in the same area as spectacle arms.

Dual Microphones

It is important to understand and appreciate the importance of dual microphone technology in hearing aids, and which hearing aid styles inluded this. 
 
Recently we upgraded two clients from very small single microphone CIC hearing aids to mid-size dual microphone ITC hearing aids – both were slightly reluctant to go larger, and here is what they reported back.

In summary the hearing aids are “life changing” and now I miss them when I do not have them in – that was never the case with my old [CIC] hearing aids. Now I am used to the fact that they are more in-ear and bulky, they are comfortable and I do not notice them which is good. But overall fantastic and people have really noticed my better engagement Nigel

Sorry for the slow reply, a bit frantic.The hearing aids are great! They are more comfortable than the other ones and the clarity is better as well. The ability to link to my phone with the bluetooth is a huge advantage for me and using them on planes for accessing recorded content is a bit plus as well. The clam shell style was a really good recommendation, I wish that I had switched to these years ago. thanks. Richard

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