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In-the-ear hearing aids (ITE)

Invisible Completely in canal In the canal Half shell In the ear (full shell)
In-the-ear hearing aid discreetly fitted inside the ear canal with close-up detail of the device.
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Technology

What are in-the-ear hearing aids?

In-the-ear hearing aids (ITE) are devices with no external wires or tubes visible, as opposed to behind-the-ear hearing aids. ITE hearing aids are all custom-made, ensuring both a perfect fit and neat look.

When you select an in-the-ear hearing aid, the hearing care expert will need to take an impression or scan the inside of your ear, for a personalized fit.

3 features of hearing aids in-the-ear

Illustration of an ear with a hearing aid device
Virtually Invisible
Hardly anyone will notice that you are wearing a hearing aid
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Custom-made
Designed for a personalized fit, nothing behind the ear 
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Easy to handle
Easy to place in your ear and remove when needed

What are the different in-the-ear hearing aid styles?

Take a look at how the five different ITE styles fit in the ear:

Invisible-in-the-canal hearing aids

Invisible-in-the-canal hearing aids (IIC) are the smallest hearing aids available. These custom-made hearing aids fit fully inside your ear canal, making them almost, if not completely, invisible. Tiny cords are attached to the hearing aid so that you can remove them easily.

  • Adapt automatically to the sound environment
  • Have a discreet style
  • Can be vulnerable to earwax and moisture build-up
  • Are better for minimizing wind noise (due to their placement)
  • Do not have a directional microphone
  • Can be difficult to adjust for those with dexterity issues

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Invisible-in-the-canal hearing aid worn discreetly inside the ear, highlighted as ’most invisible’.

Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids

Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids (CIC) were the smallest hearing aids available before the IIC hearing aid was introduced. The CIC is still discrete, however typically the face plate of the hearing aid can be visible at some angles.

  • Are custom-made to fit discreetly inside the ear canal
  • Are mostly invisible to those around you
  • Can accommodate an optional button that allows you to manually control settings for different environments
  • Can be vulnerable to earwax and moisture build-up

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Completely-in-the-canal hearing aid positioned discreetly in a person’s ear.

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

ITC hearing aids sit in the lower third of your external ear and are custom-made to fit your ear canal shape.

  • Offer longer battery life than smaller styles

  • Option for wireless streaming/bluetooth in some models

  • Balance out background noise (via a directional microphone)

  • Are easy to insert and remove
  • Option for push button controls
  • Are slightly larger than completely-in-the-canal hearing aids

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In-the-canal hearing aid worn in ear, designed for discreet hearing support.

Half shell in-the-ear hearing aids

Half shell in-the-ear hearing aids are designed to fit inside half of the your external ear region. The shell of the hearing aid is made to fit the shape of your ear. Half shell in-the-ear hearing aids:

  • Are suitable for anyone with a more severe hearing loss
  • Are a good option if you want an easy-to-handle device
  • Option for wireless streaming/bluetooth in some models
  • Can house a more powerful speaker to accommodate more severe losses

Book FREE* hearing check

In-the-ear half shell hearing aid securely fitted in the ear of an adult male.

Full shell in-the-ear hearing aids

Full shell in-the-ear hearing aids are designed to fit the entire area of your external ear. These types of hearing aids are the largest of the custom models, due to the fact that they have larger amplifiers for providing greater sound amplification. The shell is custom-made to fit the shape of your ear.

  • Are suitable for anyone with a more severe hearing loss
  • Are a good option if you want an easy-to-handle device\
  • s
  • Can house a more powerful speaker to accommodate more severe losses

Book FREE* hearing check

In-the-ear full shell hearing aid fitted in the ear of an adult male.

In-the-ear hearing aid features

In-the-ear hearing aids are ideal if a discreet style is of most importance to you. They are also a good introduction to hearing aids for first-time users, since they sit out of the way of sunglasses - and they won't fly off when taking off your sweater. Here are some pros to wearing in-the-ear hearing aids:

Very discreet
Since these hearing aids sit inside your ear canal, they are considered to be the most discreet style available. 

Less likely to pick up wind noise
Due to their placement in the ear canal, in-the-ear hearing aids are less likely to pick up wind noise. 

Comfortable with glasses
They don’t get in the way of your glasses. 

FAQ about in-the-ear hearing aids

^Applies to Demant hearing devices only (Oticon, Bernafon & Sonic brands, excludes accessories.

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