If you are experiencing hearing loss, a hearing aid is one of the most effective options to improve your life quality. There is a wide range of devices out there to suit your needs, and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are one option to consider. But is it the right one for you?

What are the features of an ITC hearing aid?

In-the-canal hearing aids are, like the in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid, custom molded. It is designed to fit partly in the ear canal. A small and manageable hearing aid style has a wide variety of features such as directional microphones and can incorporate manual controls like a volume wheel. ITC hearing aids sit in the lower part of the outer ear bowl.

They are slightly bigger than invisible in the canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids and they fit a wider variety of hearing losses. They also have longer battery life in comparison, and because they are bigger, they are more manageable in comparison to the other two styles. ITC hearing aids usually come with telecoil and wireless features, so they can connect to mobile devices and come with an optional extraction cord, as this can make the device easier to fit and remove if dexterity is an issue.

What are the benefits of an ITC hearing aid?

ITC devices have a significant range of benefits for an individual looking for a discrete device:

  • Perfectly designed: They are designed to fit an individual's ear and have a larger surface area compared to the CIC and IIC styles of hearing aids. Therefore, they are less likely to fall out of your ear when you are moving around or talking. As feedback is a noise that can occur when the microphone and receiver are too close to each other, this is a common complaint about CIC and IIC devices. As hearing aids have a wider surface area, feedback is not as common, giving them a distinct advantage over the other two styles of discrete hearing aids.
  • A better quality of sound: Clarity is important when choosing the right hearing aid. As the majority of ITC hearing aids have dual microphones, this helps the device pick up a wide variety of pitched sounds, specifically higher pitches, which can improve an individual's ability to understand various speech tones.
  • Powerful for their size: A very suitable option for those looking for a small device that packs some power, which is useful for individuals who have hearing loss up to a moderate level.
  • A discrete design: ITC devices are great for individuals that may feel self-conscious about wearing a hearing aid. As ITC devices are part of a discrete type of hearing aid, individuals can disguise this easier.

Choosing the right hearing aid for your needs is crucial. There are a wide variety of styles and types out there, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages, which is why you need to work with your audiologist to ensure that you pick the perfect style for your everyday needs.