There are five main styles of hearing aids: ITE, BTE, ITC, IIC, CIC. The style that is right for you will depend first on your level of hearing loss, and second on your unique lifestyle and preferences.

ITE (in-the-ear) hearing aids

ITE hearing aids are one of the largest devices on the market. This type of hearing aid comes in two styles: full shell and half shell. Full shell ITE hearing aids fill the entire bowl of your outer ear, while half shells fill the bottom half of the bowl.

Though they’re the least discreet hearing aid design, ITEs are a great choice for individuals who want directional microphones to reduce background noise and a long berry life. They’re also effective not just for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, but severe hearing loss as well.

BTE (behind-the-ear) hearing aids

The BTE style is another large hearing aid device and is composed of two main parts: an earpiece that sits inside of the ear canal, and a connecting tube that hooks over the ear like glasses.

Like ITE hearing aids, BTE devices are appropriate for individuals with any level of hearing loss and provide the most amplification. The drawback of this is that they’re also susceptible to wind noise, so if you spend a lot of time outdoors, it may not be the best style for you.

ITC (in-the-canal) hearing aids

Smaller than ITE and BTE styles, ITC hearing aids fit in the canal of the ear, though they may still be visible. Those with severe hearing loss are unlikely to receive the level of amplification needed with this and smaller hearing aid styles.

If you have mild or moderate hearing loss and would still like to be able to manually control your hearing aids, ITC style devices may be the perfect choice.

IIC (invisible-in-canal) hearing aids

As the smallest hearing aid on the market today, IIC styles are perfect for those who don’t want their device to be visible at all. These hearing aids are custom made to fit your ear canal and will not pick up wind noise, making them the perfect choice for individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors and have mild to moderate hearing loss.

Something to keep in mind with this device is that the batteries will require frequent replacement due to their small size, unless they come with rechargeable batteries. If you have dexterity issues, you may also have trouble fitting them.

CIC (completely-in-canal) hearing aids

If you’d still like a discreet style but want something a little larger – and therefore easier to handle – than an IIC hearing aid, CIC devices may be the right choice. With all the features of an IIC, you can’t go wrong.

Additional features to consider

In addition to providing sound amplification, hearing aids on the market today offer a wide range of features. Some of the most popular features include: