Hearing Aids Styles and Features
Experience advanced hearing solutions and personalized care from Raleigh’s trusted audiologists — your journey to better hearing starts here!
Hearing Aids are specialized devices that are worn in or behind the ear and enhance your ability to hear speech and the sounds of life without uncomfortable loudness. Modern hearing aid devices have wonderfully advanced technologies that can do all that, plus come in different shapes and sizes to suit your listening needs.
The patient makes the choice, along with the professional recommendation from our audiologist, on the best hearing aid based upon their type of hearing loss, the size and shape of their ear canal, the patient’s listening lifestyle, and how “noticeable” the patient wants the hearing devices to be.
Now Hear This® dispenses hearing aids in Raleigh, NC manufactured by all major manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Signia, Widex, Resound, and Unitron.
Today’s Best Hearing Aid Features
1. Improved Speech Understanding, Especially in Noisy Environments
The chip inside the hearing aid can process sounds quickly and efficiently to be able to reduce background noise, improve speech clarity, and promote ease of listening effort. This means that the hearing aids work hard to process sounds so your brain does not have to.
2. Fast Charging, Rechargeable Lithium Ion
Rechargeable aids can charge from dead to a full charge in about three hours, are more resistant to water, dirt, and debris due to fewer crevices on the devices, and have a visually appealing, sleek design.
3. Bluetooth Compatible
4. Mobile App for Advanced Manual Control and Remote Services
5. Remarkably Small Hearing Aid Design
6. High-Quality Audio Streaming to Most Smartphones
7. Artificial intelligence and Body Tracking
Some of today’s greatest hearing aids now have even more features that focus not only on hearing healthy but body health as well. Features of these hearing aids include Healthable Technology and Intelligence Assistance. *
- Healthable Technology features include body tracking, brain tracking, and fall alert notifications. The hearing aids have “3D motion sensors, which can track your activity, steps, and overall movement.” If you or a loved one who wears hearing aids falls, the aids will send an alert to a previously designated cell phone to alert family members that their loved one has fallen.
- Intelligent Assistant technology features include using voice commands to get answers to questions found anywhere on the internet, set reminders, and provide notifications for tasks like taking medications and translation capability for over twenty languages.
8. Accessories
Accessories provide additional assistance with hearing aids. Accessories can include devices that connect to your television and stream the television directly into your hearing aids – providing more clarity, remote controls for manual control, and devices that allows the hearing aid user to hear speech more clearly from one or several talkers.
Hearing Aid Styles
Choosing the right hearing aid style is an important part of finding a comfortable, effective solution for your hearing needs. At Now Hear This®, we help patients navigate two primary categories of hearing aids:
1. Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
2. Custom In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
Within each category are several styles, each with its own benefits depending on hearing loss, ear anatomy, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Below is a clear breakdown to help you understand the options.
And, if you are more of a visual learner, check out Dr. Egan’s overview of hearing aid styles in video form!
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
Behind-the-ear hearing aids rest comfortably behind the ear and connect to either a speaker or tubing that delivers sound into the ear canal. These styles are known for their versatility, durability, and ability to accommodate a wide range of hearing losses.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids
RIC hearing aids are the smallest and most popular behind-the-ear style. A thin receiver wire sits discreetly along the ear, making them lightweight and comfortable.
Best for: Mild to severe hearing loss
Benefits: Discreet design → Excellent sound quality → Easy in-clinic maintenance and repairs → Compatible with advanced technology and accessories
Traditional Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
Traditional BTE hearing aids are slightly larger and use tubing to direct sound into the ear. Their size allows for more amplification and durability.
Best for: Severe to profound hearing loss
Benefits: More power for greater hearing loss → Durable and moisture-resistant options → Tubing can often be changed at home → Ideal for active lifestyles or challenging environments
Custom In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
Custom hearing aids are made specifically for your ear using impressions of your ear canal. Because they are custom-fit, comfort and appearance can be tailored to each patient.
Learn more about custom earmold impressions!
The size and style available depend on ear anatomy and the level of technology needed.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids fill a larger portion of the outer ear and are the biggest custom style.
Best for: Moderate to severe hearing loss
Benefits: Easier to handle for those with dexterity concerns (e.g., arthritis) → Larger size allows for more features and battery power → Good for users who want simple insertion and removal
In-the-Canal (ITC)
ITC hearing aids sit partly in the ear canal and are smaller and more discreet than ITE devices.
Best for: Moderate to moderately severe hearing loss
Benefits: More subtle appearance → Can include advanced features like Bluetooth and rechargeable batteries → Comfortable custom fit
Completely-in-Canal (CIC)
CIC hearing aids sit deeper in the ear canal and are designed for a very low-profile appearance. Rechargeable batteries are sometimes an option, but this varies by brand.
Best for: Mild to moderate hearing loss
Benefits: Very discreet → Custom-fit for comfort → Minimal visibility
Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)
IIC hearing aids are the smallest custom option and sit deepest in the canal, making them nearly invisible when worn. Curious about IIC hearing aids? Dr. Egan goes into more detail in her video blog!
Best for: Mild to moderate hearing loss and appropriate ear anatomy
Benefits: Most discreet style available → Natural sound placement → Custom fit
Note: Not everyone is a candidate for IIC devices due to ear canal shape, size, or hearing needs. Our audiologists can determine if this option is appropriate during your consultation.
Finding the Right Style for You
The best hearing aid style depends on several factors, including:
→ Degree of hearing loss
→ Ear anatomy
→ Lifestyle and daily activities
→ Dexterity and vision
→ Technology preferences (Bluetooth, rechargeable, etc.)
→ Cosmetic goals
During your appointment at Now Hear This®, we will walk you through these options, demonstrate styles, and prescribe solutions tailored specifically to your hearing and lifestyle.
Ready to explore your options? Schedule a consultation with our team to find the hearing aid style that fits your hearing loss and listening needs best!
Hearing Aids
