In-the-ear hearing aids

In-the-ear aids are made for one person. At your first fitting appointment we take an impression of each ear with soft silicone, which takes about five minutes and feels like cool putty. The impressions go to the lab, which builds a shell to the exact shape of your ear and fits the electronics inside it.

Why people choose them

With nothing behind the ear, there is no conflict with glasses arms, mask loops, hearing protection or a cycle helmet. Because the microphone sits in your ear rather than above it, your outer ear still shapes the sound the way nature intended, which helps you tell where a voice is coming from.

Sizes

They range from a full shell that fills the bowl of the ear, with room for a volume wheel, down to a tiny canal aid that is almost invisible from the side. Smaller is not always better: the smallest aids have smaller batteries and fewer controls. We bring a set of dummy shells to the appointment so you can feel each size in your fingers before choosing.

Rechargeable

Rechargeable in-the-ear aids are available at Advanced and Premium, for £200 more per pair. The charging case doubles as a drying case overnight, which helps in a damp British winter.