Hearing Instrument Styles

Hearing instruments come in many different styles. Finding one that's appropriate for you depends on your listening needs, the features you prefer and, most importantly, the severity of your hearing loss. Your hearing healthcare professional will help you find the right match.

Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC) This is currently the smallest custom made hearing instrument. The shell is designed to fit deep inside your ear canal and be practically invisible. Often, these devices are limited in the number of programs and options. They are most appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses.
In-the-Canal (ITC) This hearing instrument is custom made to fit your ear. It is slightly larger than the CIC. This style provides access to multiple listening programs and is appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses
Half Shell (HS) The Half Shell is custom made to fit your ear and is slightly larger than the ITC. It will usually provide access to telecoil and multiple listening programs. The Half Shell is typically for hearing losses ranging from mild to moderately-severe.
In-the-Ear (ITE) This style is also custom made and fills your entire outer ear. A full shell ITE provides access to telecoil and multiple listening programs. It is typically for hearing losses ranging from mild to moderately-severe.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) This style fits behind your ear and comes in a variety of sizes. It is attached to an earpiece, or earmold, that is  custom-made for your ear. BTE instruments fit a wide range of hearing losses - from mild to profound. BTE devices also may have Direct Audio Input capabilities