Types of Hearing Aids: Find the Best Fit for Your Hearing Needs

Hearing issue? Let's get the best hearing aid that is available on the market. There are five main types of hearing aids categorized based on their usage and popularity: In-The-Canal (ITC), Behind-The-Ear (BTE), Receiver-In-Canal (RIC), Completely-In-Canal (CIC), and Invisible-In-Canal (IIC). What are they, and how do I know which is used for what types of hearing treatment?

This is a common question for the people. We know you will never get any hearing aids without consulting audiologists. But you need to know what they and what are the types of hearing aids and their impact on your hearing experience.

You should test your hearing condition in your nearest hearing aid clinic to find the perfect hearing aid for you. There are many varieties of hearing machines available on the market. Today we are going to talk about some popular hearing aid types and features.

Behind the ear (BTE)

BTE hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages. Learn more about BTE Hearing Aid

A BTE hearing aid:

• Is the largest, most visible type of hearing aid, though some new versions are smaller, streamlined and barely visible.
• Is capable of more amplification than are other hearing aid styles.

Receiver In The Canal(RIC)/Open fit

These are very small BTE-style devices. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they are best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal. Learn more about RIC Hearing Aids

A open-fit hearing aid:

• Is less visible.
• Doesn’t plug the ear like the small in-the-canal hearing aids do.
• Uses very small batteries.
• Lacks manual adjustments due to the small size.

In the canal (ITC)

These are custom molded and fit partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the CIC. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

Learn more about ITC Hearing Aids

A ITC hearing aid:

• Is less visible in the ear.
• Is easy to use with the telephone.

Completely in the canal (CIC)

These are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.

Learn more about CIC Hearing Aids

A CIC hearing aid:

• Is the least noticeable in the ear.
• Is less likely to pick up wind noise because the ear protects the instrument.
• Is easy to use with the telephone.

Invisible In Canel (IIC)

IIC hearing aids is a pretty similar to the Completely-In-the-Canal but it is hidden deeper in the ear. It got a few downsides as you can read below. The invisible-in-the-canal hearing aids are located much deeper in the canal and they are practically invisible even if you look directly into the ear. You got this tiny nylon thread so you can pull it out.

For details about the invisible hearing aid price in Nepal and the brands we offer, visit our guide at Nepal Hearing and Speech Clinic.

A IIC hearing aid:

• Is custom made to ensure a perfect fit.
• Is tight fit means users can better determine where sounds are coming from.
• has no joined parts mean there are no hard edges.

Conclusion

We know it can be difficult to choose the right hearing aid without consulting an audiologists. There are many types like BTE, RIC, ITC, CIC, and IIC. Each one works differently and helps in its own way. But don’t worry, Nepal hearing and speech clinic is here to guide you by the professional audiologists.

You can contact us for free consultation. Come visit us at Room No. 526, Bluestar Complex, Thapathali, Kathmandu. You can also call us at 015331880 or 9801027180. We will help you find the best hearing aid for you.