A hearing solution for you should be as individual as they are.

Different Styles of Hearing Instruments

There are several different styles of hearing instruments, not to mention the multiple design and color options. Each hearing aid is designed and fitted to each person's hearing needs.

The place where hearing aids are worn is the simplest way of categorizing the different types. Hearing aids are worn either in the ear, or behind the ear.

• ITE is the abbreviation for hearing instruments worn "In-the-Ear." ITEs are often called "custom" hearing instruments because they need to be "custom" fit.
• BTE is the abbreviation for Behind-the-Ear hearing instrument.

In-the-Ear (ITE):

Custom (ITE) hearing instruments are used for mild to profound hearing loss. Custom instruments sit entirely within the ear and are fitted individually made from an impression of the wearer's ear.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE):

BTE instruments are used for all types of hearing loss, from mild to profound. They come in a variety of styles from Miniature-BTEs to SuperPower instruments. Most offer advanced directional microphones for improved understanding of speech in noisy situations. Behind the ear systems can be connected to custom fitted earmolds with varying degrees of closure and occlusion of the ear canal and outer ear, or they may be coupled with thin tubes and soft tips for a more open fitting. Open fittings are only appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses, but can provide additional comfort and ventilation to the ear.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC)

RIC open fittings look quite similar to the open fittings. But contrary to most conventional behind-the-ear instruments, the receiver is placed within the canal. Since the receiver is no longer within the behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, but inside the canal - and connected to the BTE component via thin tubing - the BTE unit is particularly small, light, and inconspicuous.