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In-the-ear hearing aids

Written By
Ana Paula de Lima Rodrigues profile image
Reviewed By
Published on calendar_month January 18, 2023

Depending on what type and the degree of hearing loss you have, you may benefit from an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

These are less obvious than the traditional aids that hook over the top of your ear, which are called behind-the-ear hearing aids.

There are different styles of ITE aids, including invisible hearing aids.

We explain how ITE hearing aids work, their advantages and drawbacks, and who might benefit from wearing one.

If you are experiencing hearing loss and think a hearing aid might help, talk to your audiologist about the type of hearing aid that is best for you.

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All hearing aids are made up of three main components: a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker (also called a receiver).

With a traditional behind-the-ear hearing aid, the microphone and amplifier are contained in a small, plastic case that hooks over and rests behind the ear. The receiver sits in an earmold in the bowl of the ear, or a domed tip that’s inserted into the ear canal.

With an ITE hearing aid, there is no external casing that hooks around the top of your ear. Instead, all of the components of the hearing aid are enclosed in a small shell that sits completely in the outer ear.

an example of an in the ear hearing aid

The microphone picks up sounds from the environment and converts them into electrical signals, which are made louder by the amplifier and carried through a speaker (also called a receiver) further into the ear.

Depending on the style of ITE hearing aid, the shell may fit in the bowl of your ear or, alternatively, it may sit inside your ear canal.

The difference between the styles of ITE hearing aids are their size, and how much of the hearing aid you can see when you wear it. You can even get hearing aids that are invisible, which are called invisible in the canal hearing aids.

A full shell hearing aid contains the electronic elements in a plastic shell that’s custom-made to fit the conchal bowl – also called the concha or bowl – of your outer ear.

A similar type, called a half shell hearing aid, is smaller and sits at the entrance to the ear canal so it’s less noticeable. Again, this type is custom-made to fit your ear.

You can use these hearing aids for mild to severe hearing loss.

Pros
  • check They are big enough that they can come with useful features, like bluetooth connectivity and volume controls
  • check Unlike smaller hearing aids, you may be able to operate them if you have some dexterity impairment
  • check They can be made in colors to match your skin tone, making them less noticeable
  • check They can include directional microphones, which help you to hear better in noisy environments
  • check Their size means they can use a larger battery than smaller hearing aids, including rechargeable batteries
Cons
  • close Even with skin-colored, sleek designs they are noticeable
  • close Because of their position in the ear, you might feel like your ears are clogged up
  • close They can become blocked with ear wax interfering with the receiver
  • close They can pick up background noise, like wind, more than smaller hearing aids

In the canal (ITC) hearing aids

An in the canal (ITC) hearing aid is similar to half shell ITE aids, but is another step down in hearing aid size. The custom-made shell is smaller and is positioned in the entrance to the ear canal, but it is not pushed deep inside it. The pros and cons include:

Pros
  • check It has many of the same benefits of ITE hearing aids, but is less visible
  • check Like full and half shell aids, they include some useful features that cannot fit onto smaller hearing aids, like volume control
Cons
  • close Because of its small size, it may be difficult to adjust features like volume control if you have dexterity problems
  • close The receiver is vulnerable to getting clogged up with ear wax and moisture
  • close It may be too small to include bluetooth connectivity

You can see in the image below, as technology advances, hearing aids are getting smaller. These days, many people with hearing loss want the smallest devices possible and, in some cases, hearing aids that are ‘invisible’.

5 different styles of hearing aid

The two smallest hearing aids on the market are the completely in the canal (CIC) and invisible in the canal (IIC) hearing aids.

CIC hearing aids are similar to ITC hearing aids, but the tiny aid that houses all of the components sits deeper in your ear canal. Like ITC aids, they are custom-made to fit you. They are unobtrusive and barely noticeable.

The very smallest hearing aids are invisible in the canal (IIC) hearing aids.

As the name suggests, these tiny, discreet hearing aids sit deeper in the ear canal and cannot be seen by onlookers. Invisible hearing aids are increasingly popular for this reason.

The difference between CIC and IIC hearing aids is how deep they sit in your ear canal, with invisible in the canal hearing aids sitting further inside your ear canal.

To remove in the canal and invisible hearing aids, you pull on a small string that’s attached to the hearing aid.

There are several benefits to using invisible hearing aids. Many people like the idea of them because they are hidden, and they don’t want to wear a bulky device that everyone can see.

In addition, CIC and IIC hearing aids are less likely to pick up background sounds, including wind noise.

However, they are not always the best solution for hearing loss.

  • Because they are so small, most CIC and invisible hearing aids don’t come with the same features as other types of hearing aids, like Bluetooth connectivity, volume control, or directional microphones
  • They have small batteries, which means they typically have a shorter life and need to be replaced frequently
  • Their size can be problematic if you have dexterity problems or impaired vision
  • Sitting deep inside the ear canal, these hearing aids can become clogged up with earwax and they are also susceptible to moisture

CIC and invisible hearing aids are suitable if you have mild or moderate hearing loss, but they won’t provide any benefit if you have severe or profound hearing loss.

Pros
  • check Many people like the idea of them because they are hidden, and they don’t want to wear a bulky device that everyone can see.
  • check CIC and IIC hearing aids are less likely to pick up background sounds, including wind noise.
Cons
  • close * Because they are so small, most CIC and invisible hearing aids don’t come with the same features as other types of hearing aids, like bluetooth connectivity, volume control, and directional microphones
  • close * They also have very small batteries, which means they typically have a shorter life and need replacing more frequently
  • close Their size can be problematic if you have dexterity problems or impaired vision
  • close Sitting deep inside the ear canal, these hearing aids are very susceptible to moisture and ear wax clogging them up

Costs of in-the-ear hearing aids – including invisible hearing aids – will vary between providers and depend on many different factors.

If you want to find out if you would benefit from an ITE hearing aid, a CIC hearing aid, or an invisible hearing aid, speak to your audiologist. They will discuss the options with you and advise which hearing aid type is best for you.

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Written by

Allie Anderson is a health writer and editor with many years of experience creating accurate, evidence-based content for consumer and professional audiences. Allie is passionate about making medical information as accessible as possible, empowering people to make informed choices about their health and well-being. Allie holds a first-class honours degree in Linguistics from University College London, a Russell Group institution that’s ranked in the top 10 universities globally. She trained as a journalist with the UK’s NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) and after working as a news reporter for local newspapers and B2B titles, began writing about health. Published in medical journals, peer-reviewed magazines for healthcare professionals and a broad range of consumer titles, Allie has covered all manner of health and medical topics throughout her career, most recently focusing on hearing health and hearing loss. Allie has conducted in-depth research into the mechanisms underpinning hearing and has developed an understanding of the nuanced impact hearing loss can have on individuals and their loved ones.

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Reviewed By

Ana Paula de Lima Rodrigues profile image

Audiologist Ana Paula de Lima Rodrigues (Audiology and Speech Therapy BSc) is extremely passionate about providing exceptional care, advice and support for people with hearing loss. Ana trained at the University of Vale do Itajai in Brazil in 2001 and currently works in London where she is registered with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

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