Should you consider rechargeable custom-made hearing aids?

Rechargeable ITC (in-the-canal) hearing aids were hot this summer and I think they stay hot. I prescribed and fitted a few rechargeable ITC hearing aids this summer (2023). This article is about the ups and downs of custom-made ITC and ITE hearing aids, and a review of the best rechargeable ITC hearing aids in the UK market.

Frequently asked questions about in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids:

1. Are in-the-ear custom-made hearing aids better than behind-the-ear ones?

2. Which one is more durable, BTE or ITC hearing aids?

3. Do in-the-canal hearing aids require impression-taking?

4. Are in-the-canal custom-made hearing aids comfortable?

5. What are the downsides of using ITC and ITE hearing aids?

6. What are the upsides of using custom-made hearing aids?

7. Who can benefit the most from ITC or ITE hearing aids?

8. Would in-the-canal hearing aids suit any patient with hearing loss?

9. How do I know if in-the-canal hearing aids are good for me?

10. Does the UK national health services offer in-the-ear hearing aids?

11. Are in-the-canal hearing aids good for speech understanding?

12. What is the battery run time of in-the-canal hearing aids?

13. Which one is better battery-powered ITC or rechargeable ITC?

14. Can custom-made ITC and ITE hearing aids be adjusted remotely?

15. Do ITC hearing aids do streaming and hands-free phone calls?

16. Can a custom-made ITC hearing aid connect to my TV?

17. Are custom-made ITC/ITE hearing aids more expensive than BHT or RIC?

18. What are the best rechargeable Custom-made ITC hearing aids in the UK?

Are in-the-ear hearing aids better than behind-the-ear ones?

In-the-canal (ITC) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids can hold the exact level of sophistication and ability in sound processing. The differences between ITC and BTE hearing aid styles lie in how well they can satisfy the needs and wants of a particular patient with hearing loss. So in my opinion the criteria of selection between the two must be based on technical reasons.

Which one is more durable, BTE or custom-made ITC hearing aids?

In my professional experience, either one could be prone to faults and failures. In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids can show some issues right from the start if it is not built in the lab properly. However, if they are made robust, they might be less prone to problems like RICs because they do not have the wire like the receiver-in-canal (RIC) models, or the tube and earmould in the case of behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. RICs and BTEs are made in the manufacturing lines (vs ITC and ITEs in the lab) so they are expected not to show faults right from the start, up until 2-3 years when they may have the speaker wire becoming loose or have a dead speaker.

Do in-the-canal hearing aids require impression-taking?

Yes, all in-the-canal (ITC) and in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are custom-made, hence requiring taking impressions of the ear of the patient. See our full range of custom-made hearing aids here.

Are the in-the-canal custom-made hearing aids comfortable?

The ITC and ITE hearing aids are custom-made based on the impressions taken from the ear of the patient, so they are usually quite comfortable. Occasionally I have come across cases of discomfort with ITC or ITE hearing aids when a patient speaks or chews food. These cases may happen when the audiologist has to ask the lab to make a deep canal ITC to help with the retention of the aids in the ear. There are techniques to rectify the discomfort in such scenarios.

What are the downsides of using ITC and ITE hearing aids?

Here is the list of downsides of considering ITC and ITE hearing aids:

1. ITC and ITE hearing aids may cause more occlusion (hearing your own voice)

2. ITC and ITE hearing aids are not very suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss

3. ITC and ITE hearing aids will be more visible than RIC hearing aids (vanity)