Types of hearing aids

Laura James | Published 10 July 2024 | Updated 25 July 2024 | 7 mins read

Audiologist selects hearing aids for a mature woman patient to treat hearing loss at medical clinic.

Hearing aid technology has come a long way in recent years. Those large, beige contraptions you once knew are no more and, with today’s technology, hearing aids are now far more advanced and discreet – giving users their quality of life back with more advanced features than ever before.

Despite there now being more aesthetically pleasing devices to help with your hearing, this doesn’t change the fact it can be confusing when trying to find out what’s best for you, your lifestyle, and your hearing loss. Read on to learn more about the different types of hearing aids and what type might suit you best.

What type of hearing aid should I get?

There are many different types of hearing aids available on the market. Each style has its own advantages and drawbacks and choosing the right hearing aid for you will depend on a number of factors such as:

The severity of your hearing loss.
The size and shape of your ear(s).
How well you can use your fingers and hands (your manual dexterity).
The availability of new hearing aid technology (such as Bluetooth hearing aids)
Your personal preference.

How many different types of hearing aids are there?

Hearing aids can be categorised into two main types – in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE). But within these two main types, there are different styles. These different styles of hearing aids will be offered to you depending on your personal preference and hearing loss level. For example, some styles aren’t suitable for those with types of certain hearing loss and others might be better suited to those with limited hand dexterity.

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

ITE aids are moulded to the shape of your own ears, coming in different sizes and strengths depending on your needs. Fitting right inside the ear canal, they are only visible side-on to the wearer but even then, they are designed in a various choice of colours, so they are still very hard to spot.

Close-up on a person's ear wearing an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

Pros:

Almost invisible when wearing – depending on the style chosen
Can be used by a wide variety of people.
You can still use the phone or wear headphones with them in.
Designed to custom fit your ears.
Feature excellent sound quality.

Cons:

Not suitable for severe to profound hearing loss.
They’re small and can be tricky to adjust, especially for those with dexterity issues.
Can have reduced battery performance.

Best for:

Mild to moderate hearing loss.
Keeping your hearing aids more low-key.

Learn more about ITE hearing aids

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids

BTE aids are likely to be the most recognisable to a non-hearing aid wearer. They resemble the hearing aids most of us know – a case that sits behind the ear with either a mould or dome fitted into the ear via some tubing. Although they’re the most similar to the bulky contraptions from a few decades ago, nowadays, they are much smaller and sleeker, with the most modern types barely noticeable to those around you.

Close-up on a person's ear wearing a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

Pros:

Often equipped with rechargeable batteries, making them environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Adjustable receiver levels accommodate changing hearing needs.
Fairly discreet.
Easier to handle.
Most are Bluetooth compatible.

Cons:

Requires more frequent cleaning and is susceptible to dirt and skin debris.
Sometimes less discreet as they are partially visible behind the ear.
Headsets and telephones may be less convenient as they need to be held over the microphone.

Best for:

All levels of hearing loss from mild to profound.

Learn more about BTE hearing aids

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids fit more deeply into your ear canal than ITE hearing aids, so they’re typically less visible – ideal for those who are a bit more self-conscious. Because of their smaller size, they use smaller batteries and may be more difficult to handle. But you get the benefit of a more discreet hearing aid.

Close-up on a person's ear wearing an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

Pros:

More discreet than other styles of hearing aids.
Has longer battery life than some of the smaller models.
Is a good support for a few different levels of hearing.

Cons:

Can increase ear wax production.
Give you more occlusion and give you that “plugged-up” feeling.
Due to the size, sometimes wireless connectivity isn’t possible.
Not suitable for profound hearing loss.

Best for:

Mild to moderate hearing loss.

Learn more about ITC hearing aids

Invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids

Held within tiny cases in the ear canal, these aids are a style of ITE hearing aids and the smallest available. With revolutionary sound processing and expert fitting services, these aids can be life-changing. Being completely invisible makes them very popular but are best suited to those with mild to moderate hearing loss, depending on what your audiologist suggests.

Close-up on a person's ear wearing an invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aid.

Pros:

Totally invisible from the outside.
Surprisingly good sound quality.
Custom moulded to your ear shape so are very comfortable to wear.
Can use headphones and the phone as normal with them in.

Cons:

Not a long battery life due to size.
Can increase ear wax production.
Might be hard for those to put in if you have lower dexterity.
Might not be able to connect wirelessly due to the size.

Best for:

Those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Those who absolutely don’t want their hearing aids to be visible.
People who use the phone or headphones a lot.

Learn more about IIC hearing aids

Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids

This type of hearing aid is a style of ITE hearing aid and sits neatly in your ear canal making them very inconspicuous and discreet. They are custom-made from a mould of your ear so that they are also very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Close-up on a person's ear wearing a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

Pros:

Discreet.
Good sound quality.
Custom fit and very comfortable.

Cons:

Can increase ear wax production.
Might be difficult for those with less dexterity to wear.
Lower battery life than other styles.
Might have less connectability than larger models.

Best for:

Mild to moderate hearing loss.
Those who want a discreet look.

Learn more about CIC hearing aids

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids

These are a smaller version of the BTE aids but tend to be more popular because of their ability to not cause ‘blockages’, that those who wear the standard BTE aids can sometimes complain of. They provide quality sound, whilst being comfortable and discreet enough to not notice once you’re used to wearing them.

Pros:

Have great battery life – and are often rechargeable.
Support wireless connectivity.
And can even incorporate technology like AI to heighten your experience.
Are more discreet than BTE styles of hearing aids.

Cons:

Less discreet than other smaller ITE styles.
Putting the receiver in your ear can be difficult if you have dexterity issues.

Best for:

Most types of hearing loss.
Those who like to stay connected to their smart devices.
Those who need a long battery life and prefer rechargeable options over batteries.

Learn more about RIC hearing aids

We want to help you find the right hearing aid

If you’re in the process of choosing a hearing aid but still feel as though you need further information, speak to one of our expert audiologists at your local THCP practice. Our expert audiologists will assess your hearing and help to determine whether you need hearing aids as well as help you choose the right models. We offer a range of different models at different hearing aid prices and also offer a variety of hearing aid payment plans to help you get your quality of life back and feel more confident again.

Book a free hearing aid review Find your nearest THCP practice