In the ear

This type of hearing aid, also called an ITE hearing aid, comes in two styles. One style fills most of the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear, called a full shell. The other fills only the lower part of the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear, called a half shell.

Both styles help people with mild to more serious hearing loss. Both styles come with directional microphones to help the user hear better in noisy places.

An in-the-ear hearing aid:

• Has features, such as volume control, that don't fit on smaller hearing aids.
• May be easier to handle than smaller hearing aids.
• Uses a larger battery for longer battery life. It has options for batteries that the user can recharge.
• May get earwax clogging the speaker.
• May pick up more wind noise than smaller hearing aids.
• Is easier for others to see when worn than smaller hearing aids.