in-the-ear

These hearing aids are custom-made to fit the patients ear. There are several variations of this style including:

• Full-shell / Half-shell - The larger size of these instruments gives room for more powerful circuitry and telecoils, which increaseseasily compatibility with telephones, as well as easily accessible volume controls and program buttons.
• In-the-Canal (ITC) - This style sits further in the canal and is fairly discreet.
• Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC) - These hearing aids sit in the canal close to the eardrum and are only detectable by a plastic string, which is used to remove the aid. This style is often automatic and does not require any controls. With its placement deep in the canal, it it provides enough amplification for a wide range of hearing losses and makes wind noise less noticeable.
• Invisible-In-the-Canal (IIC) - This new style sits past the second bend of your ear canal, making it invisible to others and minimizing that "plugged-up" feeling. Since the device sits so close to the eardrum less amplification is needed, making it strong enough for moderate to severe losses.

behind-the-ear

These hearing aids are attached to a custom-fit earmold or soft tip that fits in the outer ear. They are available in all levels of technology and since they can house more circuitry than other styles, are a good choice for those with moderate to severe hearing losses.

• Open-Fit - These hearing aids have a thin tube and soft tip, which come in various sizes so it can be fit quickly. This design leaves the ear canal open, which eliminates the "plugged up" feeling. This style works best for high-frequency hearing losses.
• Receiver-in-the-ear - This style also has a thin tube and can be fit on-the-spot. With these hearing aids a thin wire connects the hearing aid to a tiny speaker, which fits in the ear.

remote microphone technology

The latest design in the hearing industry features an external microphone that fits in the upper portion of the ear. A tiny wire connects the mircrophone to the receiver which sits deep in the canal. This placement allows more powerul components to be used, which allows a wider fitting range. The placement of the microphone also utilizes the ear's natural ability to funnel speech sounds and minimizes wind noise.