Receiver-in-Canal (RIC)
The open-fit hearing aid that uses a thin plastic micro tube extending into the ear canal.
RICs are a type of open-fit hearing aid that uses a thin plastic “micro” tube that extends from the body of the hearing aid (housed behind the ear) over the outer ear and into the ear canal. A small, soft tip sits inside the ear canal without sealing it. This way, air and sound can continue to flow to the ear canal naturally, reducing feelings of being "plugged up".
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids—also referred to as receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) or canal receiver technology (CRT)—are smaller than standard BTE models, but are easy to maneuver and can still house a variety of features. Like standard BTEs, they can be worn comfortably behind the ear. However, unlike regular BTE hearing aids, the RIC’s loudspeaker or “receiver” is located outside the housing and positioned at the end of a thin ear wire, placed near the eardrum. Since generated sound only has to travel a very short distance with lower transmission loss, less sound energy (and battery power) is required to produce a superior listening experience.
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids—also referred to as receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) or canal receiver technology (CRT)—are smaller than standard BTE models, but are easy to maneuver and can still house a variety of features. Like standard BTEs, they can be worn comfortably behind the ear. However, unlike regular BTE hearing aids, the RIC’s loudspeaker or “receiver” is located outside the housing and positioned at the end of a thin ear wire, placed near the eardrum. Since generated sound only has to travel a very short distance with lower transmission loss, less sound energy (and battery power) is required to produce a superior listening experience.
RIC hearing aids house either a size 10 (Yellow), size 312 (Brown) or size 13 (Orange) battery depending on the style and size selected. The typical lifespan of a size 10 battery is between 3-5 days, size 312 battery between 5-7 days and size 13 battery between 10-14 days but this can vary depending upon the number of hours per day the hearing aid is worn, the severity of hearing loss and the technology level of hearing aid.
Benefits
- A more natural and crisper sound quality given the receiver is located inside the ear canal.
- It can often be more discreet and invisible than custom invisible-in-canal (IIC) and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids.
- Different receiver power levels can be fitted and therefore suitable for even profound hearing losses.
- The ability to change receiver power levels means the hearing aid is somewhat ‘future-proof’ if your hearing deteriorates.
- Different ear domes can be fitted to the receiver inside the ear making them suitable for a variety of types of hearing losses.
- Dual-microphones help to improve speech understanding in noise.
- Wireless and telecoil options.
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