BTE hearing aids are the closest to a “one-size-fits-all” hearing aid there is. They are large enough to accommodate just about all the different options you might want in a hearing aid, and their drivers (speakers) are inside the body, as well. They are able to reach louder volumes than other styles of hearing aids, so they are the obvious choice for more severe hearing loss, but they can be programmed for any degree of hearing loss. The body of the hearing aid sits—as the name suggests—behind your ear, while the amplified sound is sent through a tube and into an earpiece that fits into your ear canal.

Very similar to BTE, but the drivers actually rest in the earpiece, and a thin wire connects them to the body of the hearing aid, which still sits behind the ear. They can achieve a more desirable sound quality for most people, while still accommodating the most features and options in their larger BTE body. Most RIC hearing aids are appropriate for mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

ITE’s house all of their components in a single unit that sits in the ear, occupying most of the concha (the bowl-shaped part of your outer ear). Because they have less real estate for electronic components, ITE and smaller hearing aids typically do not offer a rechargeable battery option (the manufacturer Starkey being a notable exception).

ITC’s are only exposed at the entrance to the ear canal, making them more discreet than ITE models. Because they are smaller, expect somewhat shorter battery life from their smaller batteries. Many ITC models, however, can offer similar functionality to ITE models despite their smaller size.

There are a range of hearing aids classified as IIC. The thing they all have in common is that they are not visible to the naked eye when worn. They typically offer reduced functionality, but most sit so deep in the ear canal that you can actually wear a set of earbuds over top of them! Typically more appropriate for those with mild hearing loss, they are a good option when discretion is important.