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All types of hearing aids such as BTE, ITE, ICC, RIC shown on the ear

Hearing aid types

Are you looking for hearing aids? Hearing aids come in a variety of types and styles, which can be broken into two main categories. We will talk about each type of hearing aid as well as the advantages and disadvantages of them.
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Introduction

Find the Types of Hearing Aids That Suit You

If you are thinking of getting hearing aids for the first time, you should know that there are six main types of hearing aids. Each of these types comes in different sizes, styles, and processing power.  You will find that some types will suit your needs better than others, depending on a few factors. They include the severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your preferences for the look and style.

There are two main groups for these hearing aid types — Behind-The-Ear and In-The-Ear models. Behind-The-Ear models have the main unit with the batteries, processor, and other components placed  behind your ear. ln-The-Ear models have the main unit inside your ear. Each of these groups has three variations, where there are slight differences between them as far as size, power, and  functionality.

  • Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

    Main unit with the batteries, processor, and other components placed behind your ear.
  • In-The-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

    Main unit inside your ear.
Widex moment BTE RD (behind the ear) hearing aids shown in a pearl white colour.
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

The most popular

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are among the most common types of hearing aids. They are typically the largest type, although advancements in hearing aid technology have led to smaller BTE models than in the past.
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Widex evoke RIC 312-D.
Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids

A variation of behind-the-ear(BTE) models

Receiver-ln-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are a variation of Behind-The-Ear (BTE) models. Almost everything that was said about BTE hearing aids above is the same for RIC hearing aids.
Widex evoke pearl white RITE.
Receiver-In-The-Ear (RITE) Hearing Aids

Streamlined sound with external receiver.

Receiver-ln-The-Ear (RITE) hearing aids are very similar to RIC hearing aids. They also have the main unit housing the microphone, battery and sound processor. The main unit transmits the sound via a wire connecting the main unit to the dome.
Widex moment BTE RD (behind the ear) hearing aids shown in a pearl white colour.
In-The-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

IN-EAR INNOVATION

In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids are the second main group of hearing aid types. They have much more distinct differences compared to all the Behind-The-Ear models. Like the name implies, ITE hearing aids have all the components in the ear itself, not behind it.

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Completely in canal micro hearing aid, in the colours light beige, blue and red.
Completely-In-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids

A smaller variation of ITE hearing aids

Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are a smaller variation of ITE hearing aids. Instead of sitting in the outer bowl of your ears, they sit completely within your ear canal. By necessity, this means that CIC hearing aids are smaller in order to fit in the more confined space.
Invisible in canal IIC heairng aid.
Invisible-In-Canal (IIC) Hearing Aids

Smallest, least noticeable type of hearing aid

Invisible-ln-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are the smallest, least noticeable type of hearing aid you can get. They are small enough to fit so far into your ear canal that they are completely invisible unless you are looking directly into the person's ear.
Widex Cros hearing aids will help you hear from both ears if you are deaf or has severe hearing loss on one ear
CROS Hearing Aids

CONTRALATERAL ROUTING OF SIGNAL

On top of the six main types of hearing aids, there is one other type that has a different functionality. They are called CROS hearing aids, which stands for "Contralateral Routing of Signal". They are meant for people who have severe hearing loss, including deafness, in only one ear, but whose other ear does not have hearing loss.
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Discover the types of Hearing Aids

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