Susan Rogan Hearing: Common Hearing Aid Styles: RITE, CIC, ITC, ITE, BTE, HS, Mini-BTEs

Common Hearing Instrument Styles

There are many styles of hearing aids. The degree of hearing loss, power and options requirements, manual dexterity abilities, cost factors and cosmetic concerns are some of the factors that will determine the style a patient can use. Remember, these are all "custom made medical devices". The most common styles are listed below:

	Receiver-In-Canal (RITE)
	Mild to severe hearing loss Stylish appearance Cosmetically appealing Comfortable fit Excellent sound quality and low distortion
	Open-fit Mini BTE
	Open ear digital hearing aid Small size, great sound Automatic background noise diffuser You'll not know you're wearing them
	Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
	For mild to moderately - severe hearing loss Very small one piece hearing aid All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell Fits inside the ear canal Barely visible or not visible at all in the ear canal
	In-the-Canal (ITC)
	For mild to moderately - severe hearing loss Small one piece hearing aid All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell Fits outside the ear canal Slightly visible in the ear
	Half Shell (HS)
	For mild to severe hearing loss Larger one piece hearing aid All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell Fills a portion of the bowl of the ear Visible in the ear
	In-the-Ear (ITE)
	For mild to severe hearing loss Larger one piece hearing aid All components contained in a custom - fit, hard - molded plastic shell Fills the entire bowl of the ear Visible in the ear
	Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
	For mild to profound hearing loss Larger two piece hearing aid All components contained in a case that is worn behind the ear A hard - molded plastic case is worn behind the ear, and a custom - fit armload extends into the ear May be barely visible depending on case color and armload color