Hearing Aids

How do I know which hearing aids are right for me?

Your audiologist can take the guesswork out of choosing hearing aids. Your hearing loss, lifestyle, personal preference, and budget will guide the audiologist to provide you with hearing aid choices that are appropriate for your specific needs.

Types of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids come in four basic types:

• Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
  These instruments are extremely flexible for all types of hearing loss. The hearing device is housed within a shell that sits comfortably behind the ear and delivers sound through a mold that is custom made for your ear.

• In-The-Ear (ITE)
  These are very easy to operate even if the user has poor dexterity. The hearing device is made of one piece that is custom made to fit inside your ear.

• In-The-Canal (ITC)
  This hearing device is made of one piece that is custom made to fit inside your ear canal. It is smaller than an ITE, but not as small as a CIC.

• Completely In-The-Canal (CIC)
  This device is made of one piece that is custom made to sit flush with the opening of your ear canal. The device is removed from each ear canal by pulling a tiny removal cord.

• Receiver In-The-Ear (RITE)
  Dramatically different from previous designs, RITE fittings have set a new standard for cosmetic appearance and sound processing. The ultra small and light weight device is placed behind the ear and a tiny speaker is seated in the ear canal.