Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing Aid Styles
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
BTE instruments have a plastic casing that rests behind the ear and houses the device’s technology. A clear plastic tube then directs amplified sound into an earmold inside the ear canal. Behind-the-ear instruments are often the most durable hearing devices, a few are even waterproof. Compared to smaller, in-the-ear instruments, they hold more circuitry and offer greater amplification.

On-The-Ear (OTE)
With soft, flexible earbuds and an extra-small casing, our on-the-ear model is light and comfortable. It’s a perfect solution for first-time wearers and patients with moderate hearing loss.

In-The-Ear (ITE)
Smaller, in-the-ear instruments house their technology components in a custom-formed earmold that fits within the outer portion of the ear. The easy-to-use controls are ideal for those with limited manual dexterity.

In-The-Canal (ITC
In-the-canal (ITC) instruments are smaller still, featuring an earmold that fits down into the ear canal and a smaller portion that faces out into the outer ear. They are discreet, yet partially visible within the outer ear.

Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
The newest generation of hearing instruments, these devices fit completely in the canal (CIC). Only the head of a tiny plastic line-with which you insert or remove the instrument shows above the canal. Although CIC devices offer aesthetic appeal, the structure of some individuals ears (e.g. those with a very narrow canal) may make this style unsuitable for them.