HAC Earmold Selection & Hearing Aid Styles Flashcards

Which hearing aid style fits entirely within the ear canal with no component visible outside the ear?

Answer: CIC (completely-in-canal)

A CIC hearing aid fits completely within the ear canal, making it the least visible of the traditional custom hearing aid styles.

What range of hearing loss can a BTE hearing aid typically accommodate?

Answer: Mild to profound hearing loss

BTE hearing aids paired with appropriate earmolds can be fitted with varying receiver powers, accommodating hearing loss from mild through profound.

Why is a BTE hearing aid with an earmold the preferred style for fitting children?

Answer: Only the earmold needs to be remade as the child's ear grows, not the entire device

Because children's ear canals grow rapidly, BTE fittings allow clinicians to simply refit the earmold as the ear changes without replacing the expensive hearing aid body.

How does an ITC (in-the-canal) hearing aid differ from a CIC?

Answer: An ITC fits partly in the canal with a small portion visible in the concha bowl, making it slightly larger than a CIC

An ITC hearing aid is larger than a CIC, occupying part of the concha as well as the canal, offering easier handling and space for directional microphones.

What is the primary benefit of an IIC (invisible-in-canal) hearing aid?

Answer: Maximum cosmetic discretion — it is not visible when the user is wearing it

The IIC sits at the second bend of the ear canal, placing it completely out of sight for an outside observer and providing the highest degree of cosmetic appeal.

Which hearing aid style uses a thin wire running from a BTE body to a receiver tip or dome placed in the ear canal?

Answer: RIC/RITE (receiver-in-canal / receiver-in-the-ear)

RIC (receiver-in-canal) or RITE (receiver-in-the-ear) hearing aids separate the receiver from the BTE body, connecting them via a thin electrical wire to a canal tip or dome.