Custom fit hearing aids

Also known as ‘In the Ear' (ITE) hearing aids, they are custom made based on an impression of your ear. Custom fit hearing aids can be used to successfully treat a wide range of hearing losses. ITE hearing aids come in different styles/sizes.

Completely-In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC)

CIC hearing aids represent the smallest style in the custom-fit range. As CIC hearing aids fit deep inside the ear canal, they are almost invisible and therefore, cosmetically appealing to the wearer. This style accommodates people with mild to moderate hearing loss; however, some manufactures offer power CICs for more severe losses. CIC hearing aids are suitable for people with ear canals large enough to accommodate the insertion of the hearing aid deep into the ear. The microphone of a CIC instrument sits in your ear canal, simulating natural sound reception.

CICs are usually not recommended for people with dexterity problems due to their small size and even smaller batteries. A tight fit in the ear canal may lead to comfort issues, occlusion (feeling plugged up), and excessive wax build-up. These devices are the most susceptible to damage from wax and moisture build-up since they fit so deep in the ear canal. This may lead to more frequent repairs and a shorter lifespan. With the success of the Receiver In The ear and slim tube mini BTEs, the popularity of CIC hearing aids has dropped significantly.

In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC)

ITC hearing aids fit into the ear canal. They are only slightly larger than the CIC hearing aids but smaller than the ITE hearing aids. Due to a slightly bigger battery, battery life is longer lasting compared to CIC hearing aids.

The ITC style is only suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing loss due to its size. Manual options, such as a volume control or directional microphones are limited due to the size of the faceplate. Like its smaller counterpart, the ITC models are susceptible to moisture and earwax and may prove hard to handle for wearers with dexterity or visual problems.

Half Shell (HS) hearing aids

HS hearing aids are designed to fit into the bottom half of the outer ear bowl. The bigger size of these aids allow for more features such as directional microphones to be put in these hearing aids. Although they are easier to handle than smaller custom-fit styles, they are not suitable for people with dexterity or visual problems.

Full Shell (FS) hearing aids

This type of hearing aid fills the outer ear. They are the most visible of the custom made range but can cover a wide range of hearing losses up to severe. Due to their size, they are much easier to handle than smaller custom aids and allow for optional manual features such as a volume control, program button, or telephone switch. These aids have bigger batteries which provide longer battery life.

Although they are the largest of the custom products, people with dexterity issues may still have difficulties maintaining them and managing the small volume controls or the program buttons. This may be resolved by opting for a more advanced "automatic" hearing aid. Like other custom made types, earwax and moisture problems may lead to more repairs

Behind-the-Ear hearing aids (BTE)

As the name suggests, BTE instruments sit neatly behind (or on top of) your outer ear. They direct sounds down into the ear through a tube connected to an ear tip or an earmould which keeps them secure within the ear canal.

Because of their versatility, BTE hearing aids suit the broadest range of hearing losses from mild to profound. They are suitable for all ages. There is a wide range of colors available for matching to hair, skin tone, and even personal style. Standard BTEs usually use larger battery sizes which are easier to handle and have a longer lifespan compared to smaller batteries. Repairs are typically fewer than custom products and some BTE models may come with a moisture resistant coating and features.

As they're worn outside the ear canal, BTEs do not need to be repaired as often as custom-fit styles. Brilliantly advanced, these hearing aids provide superior amplification to custom fit devices and can be fitted with connections to external sound sources including auditory training equipment and infrared listening systems. Many models are now Bluetooth compatible.

Function meets fashion

Like mobile phones, your hearing aid can be personalised to match your personal style. Because they come in many different sizes, BTE hearing aids come with a wide range of controls, battery types and degrees of power.

Available in a range of colours and contemporary designs, BTE models are great for any age. They can be customised to complement your hair/skin tones or even fashion sense!

Slim tube Mini BTE

Designed to hide behind the outer ear, the mini BTE has a discreet, ultra-thin tube which directs sound into the ear. It's held in place by an equally discreet dome shaped, soft tip inside the ear canal. Sounds enter the ear naturally around the tip, while amplified sound enters through the tip itself. Wearers appreciate the natural unplugged feeling this type of ‘open fitting' provides. Recommended for mild to moderate high frequency hearing losses.

 

 

Receiver In The Ear (RITE)

Commonly known as RITE , RIC (receiver-in-canal) or CRT(Canal Receiver Technology), this style of hearing aid looks like the slim tube mini BTEs but contains a speaker inside the ear tip rather than the main body of the instrument. This provides a smoother amplification and improves the sound quality significantly. As an ‘open fitting' option, RITE hearing aids can provide the most natural sound quality, least occlusion, better localization and better speech clarity in noisy situations.

This newer style of hearing aids has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Although originally designed for high-frequency hearing losses, newer models can now accommodate a wider range of hearing loss from mild to severe. This style is the most cosmetically appealing type of hearing aids but may not be suitable for people with moisture or wax build-up problems.

 

BTE with ear-mould

BTE hearing aids fit behind-the-ear and are attached to a soft custom ear-mould. With BTE hearing aids, the electronics are housed in a case that fits behind the ear. Sound is directed from the hearing aid, through the tubing, and through the ear-mould to the ear. Ear moulds are custom made to fit the ears contours behind the ear. They come with many more features, control options and battery power than the custom-fit models. The earmold is matched to suit the wearer's hair colour, skin tone or personal style.