Putting in a hearing aid takes a little practice, but most people get comfortable with it within a week or two. The exact technique depends on which style you wear. Behind-the-ear models, receiver-in-canal models, and custom in-the-ear models each go in differently, so the steps below are organized by type.
Before you start, make sure you’re working with the correct ear. The industry-standard color coding is red for right and blue for left. Look for a small color marker, usually near the battery door or on the device body itself.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
BTE hearing aids have two parts: the main body that hooks over the top of your ear and an earmold that sits inside the ear canal. The earmold goes in first, and the body follows.
Hold the hearing aid by the bottom of the earmold. With your opposite hand, gently pull back and up on the outer ear. This straightens the ear canal slightly and makes insertion much easier. Twist the earmold forward a little and place its tip into the opening of your ear canal. Then push the earmold inward while rotating it back toward the rear of your ear. You should feel it settle into place. Run a finger around the edges of the mold to confirm it’s fully seated and flush with the contours of your ear. Once the mold feels secure, take the hearing aid body and drape it over the top of your ear so the hook sits snugly behind the ear.
If the earmold feels like it’s sticking or dragging against your skin, a tiny drop of water-based lubricant on the tip can help it slide in. Avoid petroleum-based products, which can degrade the mold material over time.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids
RIC hearing aids are the most common style sold today. They have a small body that sits behind the ear connected by a thin wire to a tiny speaker (called a receiver) tipped with a soft dome or custom mold. The dome goes into the canal, and the body goes behind the ear.
Start by placing the main body behind your ear so it rests comfortably. Then gently guide the thin wire and the dome into your ear canal. Push the dome in far enough that it isn’t visible from the outside and the wire lies flat against the skin in front of your ear. A proper seal matters here: if the dome is sitting too shallow, sound leaks out and you’ll hear whistling or a thin, tinny quality. You should feel light pressure but no pain. If the dome keeps sliding out, you may need a different dome size, something your audiologist can swap in minutes.
In-the-Ear (ITE) and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids
Custom in-the-ear models are molded to the exact shape of your ear, so they only fit one way. The key orientation cue: hold the hearing aid so the colored marking (red or blue) faces away from you, then guide it into your ear. Because the shell matches your ear’s contours, it should click into position with a gentle push and twist. If it resists, don’t force it. Pull it out, rotate it slightly, and try again. Forcing a custom mold in at the wrong angle can cause soreness or damage the shell.
How to Tell They’re in Correctly
A properly inserted hearing aid feels secure without being painful. You shouldn’t feel sharp pressure points, and the device shouldn’t shift when you open your jaw or move your head. For BTE and RIC styles, nothing should be visibly sticking out of the ear canal, and the wire or tubing should follow the natural curve of your ear without pulling.
The most obvious sign of a bad fit is whistling, also called feedback. This happens when amplified sound escapes the ear canal and loops back into the hearing aid’s microphone, where it gets re-amplified in a cycle that produces a high-pitched squeal. The fix is usually simple: push the earmold or dome a little deeper or reposition it so the seal is tighter. Persistent whistling that you can’t resolve by reinserting the device usually means the mold or dome no longer fits well. Your ears change shape over time, and earmolds that sealed perfectly a year ago can gradually become loose. A visit to your audiologist for new molds solves this.
Tips for Limited Hand Dexterity
If arthritis, tremor, or other conditions make it hard to handle small devices, a few adjustments can help. BTE models are generally the easiest to manage because they’re larger, with more surface area to grip and a more straightforward insertion process. Rechargeable hearing aids eliminate the need to swap tiny batteries entirely. Most charging docks use magnets, so you just drop the aids roughly into place and they settle into the correct position on their own.
If you prefer battery-powered aids, look for models with magnetic battery doors, which are significantly easier to open and close than the standard friction-fit doors. An audiologist who knows about your dexterity concerns can also adjust the physical fit of the device, choosing larger domes, adding removal handles, or selecting earmold shapes that are easier to orient by touch. This kind of fitting makes daily insertion and removal far less frustrating.
Building the Habit
New hearing aid users often find insertion awkward for the first few days. Practicing in front of a mirror helps because you can see the angle of the earmold or dome as it enters the canal. Some people find it easier to insert the device while sitting at a table with a mirror propped up, keeping both hands free. Others prefer to stand in front of a bathroom mirror.
Try inserting and removing the hearing aids several times in a row during a low-pressure moment at home. Most people develop muscle memory within five to ten practice sessions, and within a couple of weeks the process becomes automatic. If you’re still struggling after that, bring the hearing aids to your audiologist and ask them to walk you through the motion hands-on. Even a single coached session can clear up a positioning issue you might not notice on your own.