The main styles of hearing aid include completely-in-canal (CIC) or mini-CIC, which are fitted entirely in the ear canal; in-the-canal (ITC), which fits partially in the ear canal; in-the-ear (ITE), which sits in the concha of the outer ear; behind-the-ear (BTE), which consists of a custom earpiece and a separate sound processor; and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE), which consists of a speaker (covered by a rubber dome or custom earpiece) placed inside the ear canal, wired to a small sound processor that sits behind the ear.

A patient may choose a hearing aid based on appearance and functionality. For example, completely in-canal and in-the-canal hearing aids are not highly visible, but also do not include directional microphones. The smaller devices cannot hold as large of batteries and may not help with moderately severe to severe hearing loss. In-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids, though more visible, can be more effective for those with greater degrees of hearing loss.

Adjusting to your new hearing aid takes time. The hearing aid will be programmed for your unique hearing needs, which will help ease the adjustment period. Keep in mind, however, that your ears and brain are not used to hearing so many noises. You may experience some sensory overload until your brain adjusts to improved hearing.