The Ear & Balance Clinic chooses the most appropriate personal hearing device tailored for your needs. Since patient hearing abilities and lifestyles vary, we take the time and thought to customize hearing instruments with those specific factors in mind when selecting and fitting your hearing device.
Below are examples of the different styles that are offered.
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC), or Open Fit Style Device
Receiver-in- the Canal (RIC) is small, discreet, and easy to use. The speaker is located in your canal and usually covered with a soft medical grade silicone piece called a dome. The speaker does not block the ear canal; keeping it "open" to allow sounds in your listening environment to go through your ear canal and provide the most "natural" sound quality. This type of hearing aid is appropriate for mild to severe hearing loss ranges. Many of these models are able to connect wirelessly directly to your smart phone so that you can hear and understand phone conversations in both ears giving you stereo sound! The RIC also comes as a rechargeable option; making the inconvenience of disposable batteries a problem of the past. Enjoy hands-free calls, listening to TV, music, podcasts and so much more with top quality sound all day!
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
This is one of the smallest custom hearing aid styles and is nearly invisible in the ear. All the technological and digital circuitry is housed in this small case that fits into the ear canal. This style takes advantage of the ear’s own natural sound-collecting design and allows for convenient telephone use. CIC’s are custom-made for each ear; however, these hearing aids are for patients with ear canals large enough to accommodate the insertion depth of the instrument as well as good manual dexterity.
Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC)
The advancements of hearing-related technologies allow the Invisible in the Canal (IIC) to be made smaller than ever; with the device recessed into the entrance of your ear canal. These deeply-inserted hearing aids are virtually invisible to others while allowing the instrument to use the natural funneling of your outer ear to give a more natural sound experience. This style of hearing aid is dependent on the size of your ear canal. If interested, just ask us if you are a candidate for this style of hearing aid.
