Compare hearing aid styles & types

Q: Are there waterproof hearing aids?

Miracle-Ear is proud to offer waterproof hearing aids in our Miracle-EarBLISS™ line. Utilizing HydroGuard™ technology, this hearing aid style features eight protective layers designed to withstand sweat, rain, dirt and dust.

Q: Which hearing aid model is best for active lifestyles?

All Miracle-Ear hearing aids are suitable for active lifestyles—it’s just a matter of figuring out which is best for the activities you regularly participate in. RIC hearing aids are often a good choice for all types of people. Talk to your HCP about your daily or even seasonal activities, and they will help you find the devices that will support your lifestyle.

Q: What types of hearing aids are the least visible?

Hearing aids that fit inside the canal are the most discreet options. This includes CIC hearing aids, and our most discreet style: IIC. These models are custom molded to your ear, so they’re comfortable to wear all day. RICs are also discreet. Using a small electrical wire and a dark, opaque ear dome, RIC hearing aids are less noticeable than other over-the-ear hearing aids.

Q: Which hearing aid covers a wider range of sounds?

All hearing aids magnify sounds from both high- and low-frequency ranges, offering listening improvements in all kinds of environments and situations. However, the types that cover the broadest range of sounds are BTE, RIC and ITE.

Q: Which hearing aid has the most powerful sound capability?

BTE hearing aids have the most powerful sound amplification, making them a great option for people with severe and profound hearing loss, and those who want essential aid functions at a great value.

Q: Which hearing aid is less prone to moisture?

With BTE hearing aids, all electronics sit outside the ear, so they can be cleaned more easily and are the least susceptible to moisture and wax. And, of course, all hearing aids in our Miracle-EarBLISS™ line are waterproof, protecting against moisture. If you live in or are visiting a hot or humid climate, hearing aid dryers, dehumidifiers or dry-and-clean chargers for rechargeable hearing aids (like the MECHARGE™ powerdry or our Dry & Clean Charger), are a great way to manage moisture.

Q: Which hearing aid has the longest battery life?

Since BTE hearing aids are larger than most styles, they’re able to house larger batteries with longer lifespans. Select RIC hearing aids with rechargeable batteries can be charged in as little as 30 minutes and last up to 51 hours!

Q: Which hearing aids are the most advanced?

All hearing aid styles from Miracle-Ear come with powerful technology that can be adapted to match your hearing loss. That said, RICs and BTEs offer more features like directional microphones, background noise reduction, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and more. That’s why it’s important to talk to your HCP about your lifestyle. Together, you can discuss your priorities and which hearing aids have the features to support you.

We offer modern hearing solutions with options to fit your budget. Explore available types of hearing aids and discover which style might fit you.

In-the-ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

Customized and convenient.

Our ITC/ITE hearing aids rest comfortably in the ear with various sizes for discreet, more natural sound. This style offers easy controls and customized performance through innovative features.

Discover ITE

Zoom Close

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) Hearing Aids

Sound quality and comfort.

Our RIC hearing aids offer the most natural sound experience by placing the speaker directly in the canal. RIC hearing aid styles are very discreet, as the only component that’s visible is a clear wire that runs from behind the ear to the ear canal.

Discover RIC

Zoom Close

Behind-the-ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Powerful and easy to use.

If you need a more powerful style, our BTE hearing aids deliver the strongest sound. For all their power, BTE hearing aid styles are very easy to maintain and take care of.

Discover BTE

Zoom Close

IIC and CIC hearing aids

Invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids

Nearly invisible, expert sound.

IIC hearing aids feature an ultra-small design that fits deeply in the ear canal. They’re nearly invisible, offering a discreet and effective hearing solution without compromising on sound quality or comfort.

Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids

Small but mighty.

CIC hearing aids pair discretion with performance, sitting snugly in the ear canal for a barely visible fit. They deliver personalized sound adjustments, while being easy to use and comfortable for daily wear.

Learn how tomorrow's hearing aids can help you today

Start with a free hearing test

Which hearing aid is right for me?

Choosing a style and model of hearing aids depends on your specific hearing loss needs, as well as lifestyle and personal preferences for looks and features. By learning more about different hearing aid styles—IIC, CIC, ITC, ITE, RIC and BTE—you’ll get a better idea of what each type of hearing aid offers. It’ll also help prepare you to have a discussion with your Hearing Care Professional (HCP) who will pair you with the best hearing aids for your needs. They’ll be with you every step of the way as you discover what’s right for you.

The best hearing aids for different degrees of hearing loss

Wondering what type of hearing aids are best for your unique needs? Below, we break down what hearing aids best suit different degrees of hearing loss.

Mild hearing loss is when a person struggles to hear soft sounds, but they can generally hear things if the volume is turned up or if someone raises their voice. If you’re dealing with mild hearing loss, you have a wide range of hearing aid options available to you. The most discreet hearing aid styles, like IIC and CIC hearing aids, may meet your amplification needs while being nearly invisible. However, if you’re looking for hearing aids with the most cutting-edge technology features, RIC styles are still discreet while offering a broader range of powerful features.

Moderate hearing loss is when a person struggles to hear speech when others are talking at normal levels. Most hearing aid types are suitable for moderate hearing loss, though RIC hearing aids offer a winning combination of powerful amplification and a discreet look.

A person with severe hearing loss likely won’t hear any speech when people talk at normal levels, and they may even struggle to hear loud sounds. With this degree of hearing loss, powerful amplification is needed, making BTE, RIC and ITE hearing aids the best options.

When dealing with profound hearing loss, a person will hear very little on their own—with only very loud sounds being audible. BTE hearing aids, which offer the most powerful sound capabilities, are best suited to this degree of hearing loss, but cochlear implants might also be an option.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Finding the best type of hearing aid for sensorineural hearing loss really comes down to your specific needs. For more significant hearing loss, BTE models are a powerful choice that rests comfortably behind the ear. RIC hearing aids are a popular option because they are discreet, comfortable and work for mild to severe hearing loss. If you want the smallest option, IIC and CIC hearing aids are nearly invisible and help with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Having trouble with conductive hearing loss? This condition occurs when sound can’t reach the inner ear. In some cases, conductive hearing loss is due to earwax buildup, and all you need is to have your doctor professionally clean your ears. But for some people, conductive hearing loss is due to physical abnormalities or a permanent condition, and hearing devices are needed. Traditional hearing aids often won’t work for this type of hearing loss—but innovative solutions can help. Bone-conduction hearing aids, worn with a softband, cleverly send sound vibrations through your bones to the inner ear. For a more permanent option, bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) involve surgery to place a small titanium implant in the skull. An external sound processor then connects to this implant, bypassing the outer and middle ear and sending clear sounds directly to the inner ear.

Meet with a licensed expert

Book an appointment

FAQs about hearing aid types

Miracle-Ear is proud to offer waterproof hearing aids in our Miracle-EarBLISS™ line. Utilizing HydroGuard™ technology, this hearing aid style features eight protective layers designed to withstand sweat, rain, dirt and dust.

All Miracle-Ear hearing aids are suitable for active lifestyles—it’s just a matter of figuring out which is best for the activities you regularly participate in. RIC hearing aids are often a good choice for all types of people. Talk to your HCP about your daily or even seasonal activities, and they will help you find the devices that will support your lifestyle.

Meet with our experts

Hearing aids that fit inside the canal are the most discreet options. This includes CIC hearing aids, and our most discreet style: IIC. These models are custom molded to your ear, so they’re comfortable to wear all day.

RICs are also discreet. Using a small electrical wire and a dark, opaque ear dome, RIC hearing aids are less noticeable than other over-the-ear hearing aids.

All hearing aids magnify sounds from both high- and low-frequency ranges, offering listening improvements in all kinds of environments and situations. However, the types that cover the broadest range of sounds are BTE, RIC and ITE.

BTE hearing aids have the most powerful sound amplification, making them a great option for people with severe and profound hearing loss, and those who want essential aid functions at a great value.

With BTE hearing aids, all electronics sit outside the ear, so they can be cleaned more easily and are the least susceptible to moisture and wax. And, of course, all hearing aids in our Miracle-EarBLISS™ line are waterproof, protecting against moisture.

If you live in or are visiting a hot or humid climate, hearing aid dryers, dehumidifiers or dry-and-clean chargers for rechargeable hearing aids (like the MECHARGE™ powerdry or our Dry & Clean Charger), are a great way to manage moisture.

Most Miracle-Ear hearing aids can be personalized to fit your exact ear. RIC and BTE devices paired with a custom earmold offer a comfortable, secure fit, while ITE devices are fully customized for you. Custom devices and molds are typically ready in as little as a week.

Since BTE hearing aids are larger than most styles, they’re able to house larger batteries with longer lifespans. Select RIC hearing aids with rechargeable batteries can be charged in as little as 30 minutes and last up to 51 hours!

Since the speaker rests inside the ear canal in RIC hearing aids, sounds are clearer and more natural with this hearing aid style.

All hearing aid styles from Miracle-Ear come with powerful technology that can be adapted to match your hearing loss. That said, RICs and BTEs offer more features like directional microphones, background noise reduction, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and more. That’s why it’s important to talk to your HCP about your lifestyle. Together, you can discuss your priorities and which hearing aids have the features to support you.