In The Canal (ITC)

How in-the-canal hearing aids work

An in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid sits in the outer part of the ear canal, filling part of the bowl of the ear. It is slightly larger than a completely-in-canal device, which leaves room for a bigger battery, two microphones for better speech in noise and, on some models, push buttons or wireless features.

Some ITC-style devices are ready-to-wear and use interchangeable soft tips instead of a custom shell.

Who they suit

ITCs suit mild to moderate hearing loss in people who want a discreet device that is still easy to insert and adjust. They may not suit very narrow ear canals or ears with heavy wax build-up, because the speaker sits inside the canal.

Some people find any device in the canal makes their own voice sound boomy (the occlusion effect). Venting and careful fine-tuning reduce this, and we check it during your fitting.

Brands in In The Canal (ITC)

• Signia