Informative Details About Solutions for Hearing Loss

A diagram of the different parts of an ear.

Common Terminology and Questions

Behind the Ear (BTE)

The classic behind-the-ear model is the choice if you have severe hearing loss or if you have very small ear canals, which makes it difficult to fit an entire hearing aid into your ear.

All the electronic components of a classic BTE model are located in a housing placed behind your ear.

A slim plastic tube with an earmold in the end directs the amplified sound from the hearing aid into your ear.

Manual controls for volume and program change are placed on the top side of the hearing aid for easy user access. Depending on the model, BTE hearing aids can moreover often be fitted with an open fit solution. This means that the ear tip is made with compensatory measures so as to optimize the sound processing.

BTE-Receiver in the Canal

The receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) model is a newer development in hearing aids and is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.

Compared to a classic behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, the receiver of the RITE (the loudspeaker) is placed in the ear-tip instead of in the housing, thereby reducing its size.

The RITE model consists of three parts: the housing, which sits behind the ear, and a thin ear wire connecting the housing to the receiver. The receiver is placed in the concha of the ear.

The RITE model is a very discreet, and yet powerful hearing aid, which works fully automatically.

In the Ear (ITE)

An in-the-ear model (ITE) is suitable if you have mild to severe hearing loss.

The ITE has all its electronic components contained within a plastic shell molded to fit your ear.

The ITE model is placed in the ear canal, but with the faceplate still visible in the concha of your ear.

The size—as well as the visibility—of the ITE depends on your degree of hearing loss and the shape of your ear canals.

The ITE comes with optional user controls for program and volume change on the outside shell plate.

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

The CIC is the smallest model in hearing aids and is especially suitable if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. It is a custom-made shell that contains all the electronic components.

The shell is placed deeply in the ear canal, making the hearing aid almost invisible. A CIC, therefore, has a big aesthetic advantage: no one can actually see that you are wearing a hearing aid.

For easy everyday removal, the CIC has a small extension cord attached to the outside. A CIC model works fully automatically.

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Hear NY Audiology P.C

Informative Details About Solutions for Hearing Loss

Common Terminology and Questions

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

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