Hearing Aids
Learn About Prescription Hearing Aids
Embracing Individuality in Hearing Care: Because Your Hearing Journey is Unique, and Your Solution Should Be Too. Experience Patient-Centered Hearing Care Tailored Just for You.
Hearing Aid Styles
The style of the hearing aid is chosen and prescribed based on:
- Hearing loss
- Anatomical/medical considerations (e.g. ear shape/size)
- Manual dexterity
- Vision abilities
Prescription Hearing aids typically are grouped into two categories: In-The-Ear and Behind-The-Ear.
IN-THE-EAR STYLES (I.E. CUSTOM STYLES)
In-the-Ear hearing aid styles are custom fit biomedical devices that are manufactured using a 3D scan, or silicone cast, of your outer ear. All of the components of these hearing aids are located in the ear. The shell and faceplate come in various colours for different skin tones and preferences. In the ear styles range in size.
INVISIBLE IN THE CANAL (IIC)
For mild to moderately-severe hearing losses, the IIC is the ultimate in discretion. The entire hearing aid fits deep in the ear canal making it completely invisible in most ears.
Note: This style of hearing aid is only appropriate for certain hearing losses and certain ear canals.
COMPLETELY IN THE CANAL (CIC)
For mild to moderately-severe hearing loss, the CIC is slightly larger than the IIC, making it virtually undetectable.
Note: As with the IIC, this style of hearing aid is only appropriate for certain hearing losses and certain ear canals.
IN THE CANAL (ITC)
For mild to severe hearing loss, this hearing aid fills more of the concha (i.e. the bowl of your ear).
IN THE EAR (ITE) OR FULL SHELL
For mild to severe hearing loss, this hearing aid fills the entire concha (i.e. the bowl of your ear).
BEHIND-THE-EAR STYLES
Behind-the-Ear styles are biomedical devices that are located behind or on top of the outer ear (pinna), with a tubing or wire that routes the sound into an ear piece in the ear canal. The ear piece may be custom molded from an impression/cast of your ear (i.e. an earmold) or it might be a more universal ear tip (i.e. dome). BTE hearing aids come in various colours for different skin tones, hair colours, and personal preferences. BTE styles are also available with disposable or rechargeable batteries.
BEHIND THE EAR (BTE)
For mild to profound hearing loss, this hearing aid suits all hearing losses. Sitting behind the ear, it delivers sound through a tube that is attached to an earmold in the ear.
RECEIVER IN THE EAR/CANAL (RITE/RIC)
Suitable for mild to severe hearing losses, this hearing aid suits a wide variety of hearing losses. This is the most popular hearing aid style fit today due its its versatility, reliability, and size.
Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Rechargeable hearing aids give you the simplicity of rechargeable batteries, the groundbreaking open sound experience, and outstanding connectivity to other devices.
Hearing Aid Technology
Hearing aids are Class II Medical Devices and are also categorized by their level of technology. The more advanced the hearing aids, the more assistance they will be able to provide you and your damaged auditory system. As you move from basic to premium technology, the easier the hearing aids can adapt to changing acoustical environments and soundscapes and the more processing capabilities the hearing aids have to recreate what a healthy auditory system is capable of doing.
Hearing aid technology has grown exponentially in recent years. The capabilities of modern digital hearing aids allow us to assist the damaged auditory system and improve people's hearing and communication abilities more than we ever have been able to before. You can book an appointment today for a hearing instrument evaluation or consultation and our hearing healthcare specialists will answer any questions you have.
Book Your Appointment Today
If hearing aids are right for you, our hearing healthcare experts will insure you are prescribed properly selected, expertly fit, personalized hearing aids that will fit your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your budget.
