Styles of Hearing Aids
Mouse over the aid to see an in - the - ear view.
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Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
+ For mild to moderately - severe hearing loss
+ Very small one - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell
+ Fits inside the ear canal
+ Barely visible or not visible at all in the ear canal
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Mini-Canal (MC)
+ For mild to moderately - severe hearing loss
+ Small one - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell
+ Fits mostly in the ear canal and extends slightly outside of the ear canal
+ Barely visible in the ear
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In-the-Canal (ITC)
In-the-Canal-Power (ITC-P)
+ For mild to moderately - severe hearing loss
+ Small one - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell
+ Fits outside the ear canal
+ Slightly visible in the ear
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Half Shell (HS)
+ For mild to severe hearing loss
+ Larger one - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell
+ Fills a portion of the bowl of the ear
+ Visible in the ear
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In-the-Ear (ITE)
+ For mild to severe hearing loss
+ Larger one - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell
+ Fills the entire bowl of the ear
+ Visible in the ear
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Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
+ For mild to profound hearing loss
+ Larger two - piece hearing aid
+ All components contained in a case that is worn behind the ear
+ A hard - molded plastic case is worn behind the ear, and a custom - fit earmold extends into the ear
+ May be barely visible depending on case color and earmold color
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Open-Ear (OE)
+ For mild to moderately-severe hearing loss
+ All components contained in a case that is worn behind the ear
+ A hard-molded plastic case is worn behind the ear, and a clear, thin tube extends into the ear canal
+ Barely or not at all visible
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Optional Features |
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Telecoil |
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A telecoil is designed for telephone use. It prevents feedback (whistling sound) that typically occurs when the hearing aid microphone is covered (e.g. when the telephone headset is placed over the hearing aid).
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Directional Microphone |
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A directional microphone is built into the hearing aid and helps emphasize sounds coming from in front of the hearing aid and de - emphasize sounds coming from behind the hearing aid. Since most conversations occurs with the listener facing the speaker, the assumption is that the speech will be coming from in front of the hearing aid and noise will be coming from behind the hearing aid.
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Memory Button |
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The memory button allows the user to change between the listening programs that the hearing care professional has programmed into the hearing aid.
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On/Off Switch |
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The on/off switch allows the user to turn the hearing aid on or off without having to close or open the battery door on the hearing aid.
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Volume Control |
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The Volume control (available on select models) allows the user to adjust the the volume of the aid manually to fit the listening environemnt
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