Which Hearing Device Style Meets Your Needs?

Deciding on the right hearing device for you is an important decision. A hearing aid represents a considerable financial investment and so you want to be sure your purchase is the most appropriate to your needs. This depends on a balance of factors, including the severity of your hearing loss and your preference for discretion.

Q: How many styles of hearing device are there? 

A: Broadly speaking, there are three styles although these can be subdivided further. For simplicities sake, we are going to discuss the following types of devices:

• Behind the ear (BTE)
• Receiver in the ear (RIT)
• In the Canal (ITC)

Q: This doesn’t mean much to me. Please could you explain further?

A: Absolutely. You are likely aware of the BTE hearing devices, because these are the traditional style of hearing aids. All the working components are contained in housing which sits behind the ear. The amplified sound is then transferred into the ear canal via a fine tube and an earmold.

The RIT device still has a body that sits behind the ear, but the receiver is now situated within the ear canal which makes for greater sound amplification and allows the external compartment to be slightly smaller than a BTE.

The ITC are more discrete because all the components are miniaturized and sit within the ear canal. Some of these devices are so small that they are invisible to the observer, making for the ultimate in user discretion.

Q: I have mild hearing loss, so which style is best for me?

A: This is very much a personal decision and depends on your preferences. However, mild to moderate hearing loss opens up the widest choice of device to you, making all three options a possibility.

The opposite is true with severe hearing loss because of the need for greater amplification. The latter requires more power which means equipping the device with stronger batteries with longer life. This is difficult to ITC devices and for optimum sound amplification a BTE or RIT device is an excellent choice.

Q: OK, so if BTE devices are more powerful, why would anyone choose an ITC?

A: Different people want different things. Some people feel self-conscious wearing a hearing aid and would prefer others not to realize they wear a device. This makes the discretion of an ITC device ideal, because it is hidden within the ear canal itself. It also carries other advantages, such as less wind noise when worn outside, because of the shielding effect of the ear canal 

However, it’s worth pointing out modern BTE devices are streamlined and unobtrusive, and are stylish in their own way.

Q: Are there other advantages to a BTE device?

A: Indeed. The dials and controls are on the external body. This makes adjustments on the move perfectly possible without removing the device, and is a great feature for less dexterous individuals.

Remember, your hearing specialist is there to help and will be delighted to talk through further details with you.