Hearing Aid Styles
Every Major Hearing Aid Style, Matched to You
Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center fits every major hearing aid style in Walnut Creek and Brentwood, CA, from near-invisible in-canal devices to powerful behind-the-ear systems and the popular receiver-in-canal models. Because we work independently of any single manufacturer, your style is matched to your hearing test results, your daily listening, your dexterity, and your budget rather than a sales contract. We walk through every trade-off so you choose with full information.
Which Style Fits Your Hearing Loss and Lifestyle
The right hearing aid style depends on your degree of hearing loss, your ear anatomy, your dexterity, and how visible you want the device to be. Our hearing instrument specialist walks through every trade-off so you leave confident in your choice.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC)
The most popular hearing aid style today. A small housing sits behind the ear and sends sound through a thin wire to a speaker placed in the ear canal. RIC devices are lightweight, discreet, and offer excellent sound quality with Bluetooth streaming and rechargeable battery options — suitable for mild to severe hearing loss. Their comfortable, low-profile design makes RIC a go-to choice for active patients who want both performance and discretion.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
The most powerful hearing aid style. The housing sits behind the ear and delivers sound through a tube to a custom earmold or dome. BTE devices offer the longest battery life, the most amplification, and accommodate advanced features including Bluetooth streaming — making them ideal for moderate-to-profound hearing loss and an easy-to-handle option for patients who prefer a larger, more durable device.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
Custom-molded to fill the outer ear bowl, ITE hearing aids suit mild to severe hearing loss. Their larger shell is easier to handle and insert — a practical advantage for patients with arthritis or reduced dexterity — and they can include volume controls, directional microphones, wireless connectivity, and rechargeable battery options.
In-the-Canal (ITC)
Custom-fit to sit partially inside the ear canal, ITC hearing aids are smaller and more discreet than ITE models while still accommodating directional microphones and wireless features. They work well for mild to moderate hearing loss and are a popular choice for patients who want a low-profile device without sacrificing connectivity or manual controls.
Completely-in-Canal (CIC)
Fitting entirely inside the ear canal, CIC hearing aids are very discreet with only a small removal handle visible at the opening. They're a popular choice for mild to moderate hearing loss when cosmetic appearance is the priority. Their compact size limits some advanced features, but many CIC models from the manufacturers we carry still support Bluetooth connectivity.
Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)
The smallest hearing aid available, IIC devices sit deep inside the ear canal and are virtually invisible to others. Best suited for mild to moderate hearing loss, they're removed daily with a small pull string. Candidacy depends on ear canal anatomy, and our hearing instrument specialist will confirm fit during your evaluation. If maximum discretion is your top priority, this is the style to explore.
Your 45-Day Hearing Care Journey
At Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center, better hearing is a guided 45-day journey, not a one-time sale. Every fitting follows comprehensive audiological best practices — precise testing, real-ear verification, and personalized follow-up across Walnut Creek and Brentwood. We fine-tune your devices to the way you actually live, so you keep hearing clearer, more natural sound well after your first visit.
Reconnect With the Sounds You Love — Book Your Visit
Trusted by Contra Costa County patients for unhurried, specialist-led hearing care built around your life and your hearing goals.
Our Locations
Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center has two convenient Contra Costa County offices — Walnut Creek and Brentwood — with free parking and ADA-accessible facilities at both.
- Serving Contra Costa County since 2008
- Free parking at both locations
- ADA accessible at both locations
“I’ve been with Toby Hill for many years now and have always found him attentive, up to date and very personable. Highly recommend.”— Google Reviewer
Walnut Creek
Call or Text1196 Boulevard Way, Suite 1
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Brentwood
Call or Text1240 Central Boulevard, Suite A2
Brentwood, CA 94513
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hearing Aid Styles FAQs
Common questions about hearing aid styles in Walnut Creek and Brentwood: which sit deepest in the canal, where rechargeable options fit, CROS and BiCROS systems, and how we help you choose.
Invisible-in-canal (IIC) and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are the smallest and most discreet styles we fit at Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center. They sit deep in the ear canal and are virtually undetectable to others, with only a tiny removal handle visible past the canal opening.
Both styles work well for mild to moderate hearing loss. Their small housings mean less room for a directional microphone or aggressive noise reduction, and very small batteries can mean more frequent changes.
ITC and ITE styles sit higher in the canal and ear bowl, are easier to handle, and accommodate more amplification, appropriate for more significant hearing losses, with larger batteries that last longer or rechargeable options.
Rechargeable hearing aids are available across most RIC, BTE, and ITE styles from the manufacturers we work with. ITC models are beginning to offer rechargeable options as battery technology improves. CIC and IIC styles generally still rely on disposable zinc-air batteries because the housings are too small to hold a rechargeable cell.
For many people, especially those who travel often, have reduced dexterity, or simply prefer the simplicity of an overnight charger, a rechargeable RIC ends up being the most practical choice. Our hearing instrument specialist walks through the battery trade-offs for each style that matches your hearing loss. Call or text (925) 203-9134 to discuss which option fits your routine.
CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signal) hearing aids are designed for people with single-sided deafness or hearing loss in one ear only. A microphone on the non-hearing side picks up sound and wirelessly transmits it to a receiver worn on the better ear, so conversations coming from your weaker side are no longer missed.
BiCROS systems add amplification for people whose better ear also has some hearing loss. The manufacturers we work with offer CROS- and BiCROS-compatible models. If you've been told one ear is unaidable, call or text (925) 203-9134 and ask about candidacy.
At Contra Costa Hearing Aid Center, style selection is a clinical decision, not a sales process. Our Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist reviews your hearing test to establish the degree and shape of your hearing loss, then factors in your daily listening environments, like meetings, restaurants, family at home, and the phone, along with your dexterity, your preference for visibility, and your budget.
Because we work independently with a curated list of leading manufacturers, we match a style to your life rather than steering you toward whatever a single company offers. Every recommendation is followed by a careful fitting and Real Ear Measurement verification so the style you choose actually performs. Call or text (925) 203-9134 to get started.