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Hearing Aid Styles In the ear hearing aids
Hearing Aids
Private digital hearing aids are available in a range of sizes and technologies.
Here we explain some features and differences .
In the ear Hearing Aids
In the ear hearing aids are custom made digital hearing aids that fit completely in your ear and have nothing on top or behind.
They are usually custom made, impressions are taken of your ears and the hearing aids are made to fit exactly.
There are different sizes of in the ear custom hearing aids
IIC - Invisible In the canal
The smallest custom in the ear hearing aids that fits deep inside the ear canal so that the faceplate and microphones are recessed with the ear canal.
Advantages
- The smallest and most discreet custom hearing aids available.
- As the microphones are placed within the ear canals this can take advantage of the ears' natural acoustics.
- Nothing behind the ear, so can more more comfortable than behind the ear styles for people with smaller ears.
Disadvantages
- Small size means less technology can be fitted in, so no Bluetooth, rechargeable batteries, wireless binaural connection etc.
- Not suitable for some types of hearing loss such as very severe losses and for mild hearing losses with normal low frequencies.
- Not suitable for people with very waxy or wet ears as this can block the hearing aids and affect their performance.
- Good dexterity required to change small batteries and to maintain.
CIC - Completely in the canal
Very similar to IIC but slightly larger and the faceplate sits at the entrance of the ear canal.
Advantages
- Very small and discreet.
- Nothing behind the ear, so can more more comfortable than behind the ear styles for people with smaller ears.
Disadvantages
- Less technology can be fitted inside but some Hearing Aid manufacturers can fit more in compared to IICs such as wireless connection and sometimes even Bluetooth.
- Not suitable for some types of hearing loss. For very severe losses and for mild hearing losses with normal low frequencies.
- Not suitable for people with very waxy or wet ears as this can block the hearing aids and affect their performance.
- Good dexterity required to change small batteries and to maintain.
ITC - In the canal
Custom hearing aids that sits inside the entrance and a section of the outer bowl of the ear. Probably the most common style of in the ear hearing aids as it benefits from nothing placed behind the ear but is large enough to have most of the latest technology inside such as Bluetooth, wireless connectivity, direction microphones and rechargeable batteries.
Advantages
- Still relatively discreet and comfortable but large enough to have full feature technology.
- Suits most degrees of hearing loss.
- Nothing behind the ear, so can more more comfortable than behind the ear styles for people with smaller ears.
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for very severe type hearing losses.
- Not suitable for people with very waxy or wet ears as this can block the hearing aids and affect their performance.
- Depending on the size of the ear, sometimes not as discreet and as a small behind the ear hearing aid.