In-The-Ear (ITE)- Components of the hearing aid are contained in a custom shell of your ear. The internal parts can vary significantly from basic linear to digital technology. Several variations of size can be ordered from a full shell, which fills the entire outer ear, to a canal style, which fills the opening of the canal and extends slightly beyond the entrance of the ear canal.




Completely In-The-Canal (CIC)- A very small hearing aid that fits entirely in the canal of the ear making it the inconspicuous of all instruments. Usually does not have a volume wheel and requires nylon cord for easy removal. Can be fit with variety of circuitry, including digital. This unit is not recommended for hearing losses requiring significant power nor for ears that have narrow canals, or medical contraindications (i.e. drainage).




Behind-The-Ear (BTE)- Hearing aid rests behind-the-ear and is connected to the ear via a tube and earmold. The receiver, microphone and amplifier are built into the housing of the case. These units have the widest selection of circuitry and power and can be fit from stock hearing aids as long as the hearing aid user already has an earmold. The internal parts can vary significantly from basic linear to high functioning digital.

Body Aid- The microphone, receiver and amplifier circuit, together with all controls are in a housing which is normally carried on the body or in a pocket. The receiver is connected to an earmold and connected to the main unit by a cord. This unit offers greatest possible acoustic amplification. They also have large user controls which make them easy to operate with poor manual dexterity. This unit compromises the smallest percentage of hearing aids purchased.

Digital Hearing Aids: Sounds are received by the microphone of the hearing aid and sent to an Analog to Digital converter (A/D converter) where the sound is changed to digital binary (numeric 1 or 0) codes. It is then manipulated to more precisely fit the needs of the user, and then passed on to a D/A converter, where it is changed back to analog sound and sent to the receiver of the hearing aid. The complexity of the digital hearing aid will determine how much flexibility and options are available. Some units are fully automatic and capable of detecting background noise and reducing it without any assistance from the hearing aid user while others require the user to manually operate some of the controls. Digital hearing aids are the only hearing aids capable of providing effective feedback management (whistling) systems. Digital hearing aids can be found with all major manufacturers.

Digitally Programmable Hearing Aids: Digitally programmable hearing aids are often confused with the truly "digital" hearing aids and unfortunately are marketed by some to do just that...confuse the consumer. Digitally programmable means that the hearing aid has adjustable parameters that are accessed via a connection to a computer (hence the word digital). The sound received by the hearing aid remains analog throughout the entire process. It can be a very flexible unit and offers many options similar to digital units, however, the sound is never change to digital binary code.