Anatomy
How a hearing aid works.
A receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, taken apart. Use the button or slider to open it up, then choose any part to learn what it does.
Exploded view
Choose a part
Tap or click any part of the diagram, or pick from the list below.
The signal path in one line
Microphones hear the sound, the processor shapes it to the hearing test, the wire carries it to the receiver, and the dome or mould delivers it into the ear canal. The battery powers the lot.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids are similar, but the speaker stays in the case behind the ear and sound travels down a thin tube to an earmould. This page is a general explainer and does not describe any particular brand or model.