RIC hearing aids are discreet with the largest part (containing the battery) tucked discreetly behind your ear. A thin, clear tube runs over the top of your ear and down to the ear canal where a cone-shaped speaker sits. The speaker is designed to allow some air to pass through, which reduces the occlusion effect or "plugged" feeling.
Despite its small size, the RIC hearing aid has ample room for a variety of features and is relatively easy to adjust, remove, and insert manually.
Standard BTE models typically house the loudspeakers in the case placed behind the ear, though the RIC hearing aid places the speakers inside the ear canal. As the sound is transferred directly to the ear, this model requires less energy and uses fewer batteries.