1. Behind the ear (BTE)

A Behind the Ear device has two parts. The main part goes behind the ears and is attached to a thin, clear tube which leads to a small ear fitting that sits inside your ear canal. Since the fitting blocks less space in your ears, the person is more likely to have a natural sound. This is also comfortable to wear and hard to notice

2. Receiver in the canal (RIC)

This is similar to the Behind The Ear aid but is smaller in size and less noticeable. The wire is invisible and connects the hearing aid to a receiver that fits inside the ear canal.

3. In the ear canal (ITE/ITC)

An In-The-Ear aid fits completely within your outer ear, whereas In-The-Canal aid fits inside your canal and is less evident than In-The-Ear aid.

4. Completely in the canal (CIC)

As the name suggests, Completely In the Canal aids go deeper into the ear canal, making them nearly impossible to be seen or noticed. However, they might lack the sophisticated features of a hearing aid because they are too tiny to be fully equipped with the latest technology.

5. Other

Other aids like cochlear implants, bone anchored hearing aids are made available to those whose inner ears are completely damaged. These are surgically implanted to provide a sense of sound by stimulating the auditory nerves directly.

Note: The images are for illustrative purpose only. Actual products may vary.

Over-the-counter (OTC) Hearing Aids

At Melnick, Moffitt, & Mesaros ENT Associates we are committed to providing superior, personalized patient care. OTC hearing aids have been around for decades but due to regulations, they are only now allowed to be called “hearing aids”. There are several key differences between traditional prescription hearing aids and OTC devices. When you get traditional hearing aids at our practice, an audiologist, alongside an otolaryngologist, performs a comprehensive evaluation of the outer, middle, and inner ear. This ensures that the ear is clear of things like wax and fluid which could cause a temporary hearing loss. It also ensures that there are no other conditions present that need to be addressed with medical or surgical intervention. Your ability to understand speech and to hear different pitches are assessed in a sound-treated booth. When someone purchases an OTC device, there is no professional medical or audiological evaluation. When we prescribe hearing aids, we also take a thorough history of your hearing needs in order to choose what technology and style is best for you. Unlike OTC devices, hearing aids are not one size fits all; no two people’s ears are alike. It is important to note that there is a significant difference in the technology of traditional hearing aids vs. OTC devices; processing ability which affects things like sound quality, speech clarity, and background noise reduction, is far superior in traditional hearing aids. After selecting the appropriate aids for each person, they are then programmed by the audiologist based on the hearing assessment. Regular follow ups are also an important part of your hearing care in order to make sure the hearing aids are clean and functioning appropriately, to confirm software is up-to-date, and so that the programming reflects changes in hearing over time. We are here to provide in-person support for any issue that may arise. Contrarily, programming, checking, and servicing of OTC devices is left up to the consumer. By providing prescription hearing aids, we at MMM ENT are ensuring that our patients receive the best quality of care for their individual hearing needs.