Receiver-In-Canal (RIC)

RIC hearing systems have a small casing placed behind the ear and sound is transmitted via an ultra-thin wire to a small receiver (speaker) held in the ear canal by a soft silicone dome.

Key Facts:

• Discreet: it can be virtually invisible once inserted
• Physically comfortable: as there is relatively little contact with the ear canal, wearers usually report feeling almost nothing in the ear after a few minutes’ use.
• Directional microphones (for better control of background noise).
• Can be used to keep the ear open, providing more natural sound quality.
• Open fitting also helps avoid “occlusion”: the ‘head in a barrel’ effect you get when speaking with your ear canals blocked.

Invisible-In-Canal (iic)

This is the smallest type of ‘in-the-ear’ hearing aid.  In common with all in-the-ear aids, it's custom made from an impression of the ear and has nothing behind the ear at all.  The IIC sits deep in the ear canal, making it virtually invisible when worn.

Key Facts:

• The most discreet in-the-ear option.
• Its position deep in the canal makes it less susceptible to wind noise.
• A more natural microphone placement makes it easier to use with the telephone.
• Because of its small size, it cannot include directional microphones, volume control, telecoil or wireless features.
• Not powerful enough to aid severe levels of hearing loss.
• Uses the smallest size of battery, which doesn’t last as long as larger ones.
• Sometimes cannot be made for people with particularly small ear canals.

Completely-In-Canal (CIC)

Before the advent of IICs, this was the smallest in-the-ear aid available.

Key Facts:

• Slightly less discreet than the IIC.
• Can be produced as a ‘power’ aid to help more severe levels of hearing loss.
• Can include a program button, allowing the user to switch settings manually.
• Usually cannot include directional microphones, or volume control, though some manufacturers have been able to incorporate wireless functions.
• Uses the smallest batteries.

In-the-Canal (ITC)

This type of aid is also custom moulded to fit the ear perfectly.  It sits partly in the concha (the lower, bowl-shaped part of the outer ear), making it more noticeable, but its size means more useful features can be added.

Key Facts:

• Suitable for practically any degree of hearing loss.
• Can include useful features, such as directional microphones, manual program buttons, volume control, telecoil and wireless functions.
• Includes features that won’t fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but the small size can make the features difficult to adjust.
• May not fit well in smaller ears.

Half Shell In-The-Ear (ITE)

This is slightly larger than the ITC, occupying most of the lower part of the concha. It is often fitted to clients who have difficulty handling smaller types of hearing aid.

Key Facts:

• Suitable for practically any degree of hearing loss.
• It’s size can make it easier to handle than smaller in-the-ear aids, and therefore a better option for people with manual dexterity issues.
• Usually uses bigger batteries which last longer.
• Can include a host of beneficial features such as directional microphones, telecoil and wireless functions.
• Can usually be made to fit even the smallest ears.

Full Shell In-The-Ear (ITE)

This is the largest type of in-the-ear hearing aid. It fills most of the concha, which can be useful for securing the aid in the ear, especially if the wearer has unusually narrow ear canals which necessitates a ‘shallow’ fitting.

Key Facts:

• The most visible in-the-ear option.
• Microphone placement can make it more susceptible to wind noise.
• Generally easier to handle than smaller aids.
• Uses larger size batteries.
• Can include many useful additional features.

Behind the ear (BTE)

This is the fitting style most people associate with hearing aids.  It has a relatively large casing that hooks over the ear and sound is channeled into the ear canal by plastic tubing which is usually held in place by a custom-made mould.  Being ‘off the shelf’, relatively easy to maintain, and suitable for almost all types of hearing loss, this is the style of hearing aid most commonly dispensed by the NHS.

Key Facts:

• The largest, most visible type of hearing aid.
•  Can be very powerful: suitable for the most profound hearing losses.
• Can be easier to handle than some types of hearing aid.