What Kinds of Hearing Aids are Available?

A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind your ear to amplify sounds so that a person with hearing loss can listen and speak to others with more clarity and confidence. Hearing aids help make sounds easier to hear in quiet or noisy situations.

It is important to note that, for people with profound hearing loss or complete deafness, hearing aids may not improve their hearing. A cochlear implant or other surgical implant may be a more appropriate option.

For patients who are candidates for hearing aids, there are several factors to consider when determining which style is the most appropriate for you.

Ultima Hearing Centre offers six different styles of hearing aids. We will explain the differences, as well as the advantages, of each type of hearing aid to help you make the best choice for your lifestyle and personal comfort.

Behind-the-ear (BTE)

BTE Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

BTE hearing aids are sturdy and easy to maintain because the circuitry is securely housed in a plastic case behind the ear. This hearing aid will need to be worn with an earmold and is appropriate for those with a severe to profound hearing loss.

Receiver-in-canal (RIC)

RIC Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

RIC hearing aids are also called mini-BTE (mBTE) because the hearing aid also sits behind the ear. However, they are much smaller than BTEs with earmolds; therefore, they are more comfortable and discrete. These hearing aids may also come in rechargeable options. RIC hearing aids are a suitable option for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

In-the-ear (ITE)

ITE Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

ITE hearing aids are made to fit inside the ear canal. They are slightly larger than devices that work inside the ear canal; due to their larger size, it is easier to manage for those with dexterity issues. ITE hearing aids are appropriate for people with mild to severe hearing loss.

In-the-canal (ITC)

ITC Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

ITC hearing aids fit in the ear canal. They are smaller than the ITE models. However, they are larger than and easier to manage than the CIC and IIC options.

Complete-in-canal (CIC)

CIC Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

CIC hearing aids fit entirely in the ear canal. They are nearly invisible. CIC hearing aids are appropriate for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Invisible-in-canal (IIC)

IIC Hearing Aids Markham Toronto Hearing Test Hearing Centre

IIC hearing aids are placed deep in the ear canal, and are barely (if at all) visible at all to others. IIC are suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing Aids Technology

At Ultima Hearing Centre, our most popular hearing aids use digital technology. These hearing aids are able to break continuous sound waves into manageable chunks of digital information. Our most powerful digital hearing aids are able to amplify even the softest sounds of speech while simultaneously minimizing unwanted noises.

In the past, hearing aids predominantly used analog technology (amplifying sounds by making sound waves larger and easier to hear). There are two types of analog hearing aids – conventional and programmable. Conventional analog hearing aids can be fine-tuned manually, but are not as flexible or adjustable as programmable analog hearing aids. The programmable version of an analog hearing aid is controlled by a computer, and can be easily modified at the clinic by a staff member. In comparison to analog hearing aids, digital hearing aids are easier to adjust and more versatile when processing sounds.

Hearing aid manufacturers have a wide range of digital options, including the options described above, from basic to very advanced features. We carry a wide selection of hearing aids to offer patients flexibility and affordability when selecting the best option to meet their needs.