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CIC vs BTE Hearing Aids

Invisible-in-canal or behind-the-ear — the trade-offs, explained simply.

5 min readApril 2026

The two most common hearing aid styles suit different needs. Neither is better overall — it depends on your hearing, your ears, and your priorities.

Completely-in-canal (CIC)

Sits inside the ear canal, so it's discreet to the point of invisible. Ideal if discretion matters and your hearing loss is mild to moderate.

Behind-the-ear (BTE)

Sits behind the ear with a thin tube into the canal. Handles a wider range of hearing loss and is easier to handle for some users.

The honest answer

A senior audiologist can tell you which style fits your ears and hearing in minutes. That's what the free test is for.

This guide is for general information and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. For answers specific to you, book a free hearing test with a senior audiologist.

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