In-the-canal (ITC) Hearing Aids
ITC
(in-the-canal) hearing aids fit into the ear canal. They are only slightly
larger than the completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid but smaller
than the in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. The ITC style is available in
the programmable, digital, and conventional hearing aids.
Advantages
- ITC hearing aids are cosmetically appealing due to small size.
- ITC
instruments offer natural sound reception due to the placement
of the microphone in the ear canal.
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Disadvantages
- ITC hearing aids are only suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing
losses.
- ITC hearing aids are rarely prescribed for children
due to the constant growth of a child's ear.
- The small battery,
used with an ITC aid, may be difficult to manipulate.
- Feedback
possible due to closeness of mike and receiver.
- If a volume
control is used with an ITC hearing aid, it is very small and
difficult to adjust.
- ITC instruments are susceptible to damage
from earwax.
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Hearing aid batteries
Canal hearing aids use a slightly larger battery than the CIC style.
| CIC |
5 or 10 |
| Canal |
10 or 312 |
| Mini-Canal |
10 |
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