The "best" hearing aid is the one that meets your hearing needs, suits your personality and lifestyle, and fits within your budget. The Audiologist will discuss these factors with you and assist you in selecting a hearing aid that matches your requirements.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) or Open Fit

Slim tube design and minimal bulk in the ear canal provide for both comfort and cosmetic benefits. These hearing aids are most suited for mild to moderate hearing losses. They are available in a variety of colors, designs and features and can usually be fitted same-day because there are no custom-made pieces.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE)

Durable hearing aid design fits behind the outer ear and is coupled to a custom earpiece that seats in the concha and ear canal. This style is suitable for mild to severe/profound hearing losses. It is often the style of choice when fitting the growing ears of children, and is recommended for those wearers with poor dexterity, very waxy ear canals and/or challenging outer ear anatomy.

In-the-Ear

Often called a “full-shell”, this custom-made style completely fills the concha bowl of the outer ear and is appropriate for hearing losses ranging from mild to severe. Its size usually allows for a larger batter and manually accessible controls to features such as volume adjustment and stored program settings for varied listening conditions.

In-the-Canal or Half-Shell

The ITC fits almost entirely in the ear canal, extending only slightly into the concha; the Half-Shell is slightly larger and fits into the lower portion of the concha bowl. These styles are suitable for mild to moderate hearing losses.

Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC)

The smallest of the custom hearing aid styles, the CIC seats entirely within the ear canal and is therefore considered cosmetically appealing. This style is most appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses that involve both low and high-pitched sounds. The battery is very small, so battery life is shorter than with larger batteries, and the small size can be difficult for those with manual dexterity problems or poor eyesight.