Hearing Care

Hearing Care

Hearing aids

Hearing aids are delicate, carefully crafted electronic devices that require programming to function properly. With proper care and regular maintenance, your hearing aid should last about 3 to 5 years.

The various types of hearing aid devices we offer at Kaiser Permanente are detailed here. We carry cutting-edge devices that fit all levels of hearing loss and lifestyles. Additionally, you’ll also save money on devices with low deductibles and prices that are often 25 to 40% less than those of many of our competitors. And we offer one of the longest standard warranties in the region on your device.

At your appointment with one of our audiologists, they will carefully examine your hearing loss to recommend the type of device that is best suited for you and your lifestyle needs.

If you’d like more information about hearing aids or want to schedule a no-copay hearing aid consultation, call 703-359-7878.

Hearing aid types

IIC (Invisible in the Canal)

IIC aids are the smallest aids available. They are custom fitted to your ears based on a mold taken of your ear canal and the surrounding area. IIC aids are not visible once properly inserted into the ear. They are the smallest hearing aid that can be used for the ear, and you must have an ear canal large enough to accommodate the device parts. Because of the IIC aid’s small size, there is only one microphone on the hearing aid and it accommodates milder degrees of hearing loss.

CIC (Completely in the Canal)

CIC aids are one of the smallest hearing aids available. They are custom-made and barely visible once placed inside the ear canal. They also have one microphone because of their smaller size. CIC aids are recommended for people who have mild to moderately severe hearing loss, and an ear canal large enough to accommodate the device.

ITE (In the Ear)

ITE devices are larger aids that fit completely in the canal and can be used for a wider range of hearing loss. They’re also available with more features, such as a telephone switch. All of the components fit inside the plastic case, which is made to fit the user’s ear. ITE aids can either fill up half of the ear bowl (half shell) or the whole ear bowl (full shell). ITE aids are suitable for people who have a mild to moderately severe hearing loss.

ITC (In the Canal)

The ITC hearing aid is also molded to the ear and is larger than the CIC hearing aid, accommodating more controls on the device for the hearing aid user to manipulate. A volume control wheel and/or push button are features that are often added to this style of hearing aid to give the user more control over the way the hearing aid sounds. Because of its more substantial size, the battery is larger, lasting days longer than smaller hearing aids.

RIC (Receiver in the Canal)

RIC hearing aids have quickly become the most commonly fit hearing device. The two microphones and battery sit in the piece that is housed behind the ear, and sound travels down the wire to the speaker (receiver) that sits in the ear canal. Battery life on the RIC hearing aids is similar to that of ITC devices. This style of hearing aid offers natural sound quality and manual controls for the hearing aid user to adjust. Almost all types and degrees of hearing loss can be fit with an RIC device with a custom or standard earmold piece.

BTE (Behind the Ear)

There are two components in the BTE: a hearing aid and an earmold. The earmold is connected to the hearing aid through a tube. The earmold itself sits in the earbowl, and the hearing aid sits over the ear. The device amplifies sound and delivers it to the ear through the earmold. BTE hearing aids are often recommended for children and people with certain middle ear conditions, or those with severe to profound hearing loss. However, with an “open fit” BTE option, the solid earmold is usually replaced with a small ear tip to amplify high frequencies without plugging up the ear canal.

Super Power

This largest style of hearing aid is ideal for severe to profound hearing loss and is attached to an earmold. This style is also used for children and comes in a variety of colors. There are manual controls that are larger and easier to use on this device, and it’s more reliable because of the electronics that are housed behind the ear. The battery life of the Super Power is the longest of all hearing aid styles.
Kaiser Permanente health plans around the country: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in Northern and Southern California and Hawaii • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-364-7000 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., 2101 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, 500 NE Multnomah St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington or Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc., 1300 SW 27th St., Renton, WA 98057

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