ITC hearing aids occupy a middle ground between larger in-the-ear aids and tiny, completely-in-the-canal hearing aids. As such, ITC hearing aids have some of the advantages of both. In addition to their discreet style, ITC hearing aids pack some powerful features into their small casings. Some models include dual microphones to help improve speech understanding in loud environments. Many ITC hearing aids come with wireless or telecoil options (a telecoil is a small magnetic coil that can transmit sound signals from telephones and other audio devices directly through the hearing aid).

Being larger than invisible hearing aids, ITC hearing aids are a better choice for people with limited vision or dexterity problems. While small, ITC devices are large enough to contain control wheels and buttons to adjust the volume, and many can be programmed remotely through apps on mobile phones. 

Every hearing aid has its own set of pros and cons, and ITC hearing aids are no exception. While small, they are not as discreet as completely-in-canal and invisible-in-canal hearing aids. However, ITC aids are generally the most powerful and versatile of the three styles.

ITC hearing aids occupy space in the external ear shell, which results in a slight loss in natural sounds caught by the ear. As a result, you may lose some degree of sound directionality (the ability to determine which direction a sound comes from). 

Using a phone with an ITC hearing aid can take some getting used to. Over time, this will become normal for you, or you could use Bluetooth or some other wireless connectivity system to send telephone audio signals directly to your hearing aid’s speaker.

If discretion is your primary concern when choosing a hearing aid, you might want to ask licensed hearing professional if completely-in-the-canal or invisible hearing aids are right for you. Smaller than ITC hearing aids, these devices fit entirely into the ear canal with no external parts and may be used to treat mild to moderate hearing loss. Such hearing aids do not, however, offer as many options as ITC hearing aids and lack their processing power.

For those who value extra features and extended battery life, small behind-the-ear hearing aids could be considered. Larger and more noticeable than ITC hearing aids, behind-the-ear hearing aids are capable of housing multiple microphones to improve directional hearing and are more likely to be Bluetooth compatible. Their large size allows them to use larger, longer-lasting batteries, and they may even come with built-in rechargeable batteries. For children and people with severe vision or dexterity issues, behind-the-ear hearing aids are easier to operate and clean.