Hearing instruments come in many different styles. Dr.
Birchfield will help you find which style is right for you depending on your
listening needs, the features you prefer and most importantly, the severity
of your hearing loss.
Behind-the-Ear
(BTE)
This style fits behind your ear and comes in a variety of sizes. It is
attached to an earpiece, or earmold, that is custom-made for your ear. BTE
instruments fit a wide range of hearing losses - from mild to profound.
In-the-Ear
(ITE)
This style is also custom made and fills your entire outer ear. A full shell
ITE provides access to telecoil and multiple listening programs. It is
typically for hearing losses ranging from mild to moderately-severe.
In-the-Canal
(ITC)
This hearing instrument is custom made to fit your ear. It is slightly
larger than the CIC. This style provides access to multiple listening
programs and is appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses.
Completely-In-The-Canal
(CIC)
This is currently the smallest custom made hearing instrument. The shell is
designed to fit deep inside your ear canal and be practically invisible.
Often, these devices are limited in the number of programs and options. They
are most appropriate for mild to moderate hearing losses.
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Invisible Open Technology™ (IOT)

The microphone and tubing of this type of hearing
instrument are hidden in the ear’s natural contours, so the
instrument is virtually invisibly in the ear. This unique microphone
placement also provides natural suppression of wind noise.
Multi-venting allows air to travel freely in and out of the ear,
ensuring an Open, comfortable fit that makes your voice will sound
as natural as possible. This style is appropriate for mild to
moderate hearing losses.
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