What are behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids?

Behind the ear

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are the most common on the market today. They hide behind the Auricle (the visible part of your ear) and have a thin clear tube that runs into the ear canal. BTEs are designed so people do not notice them but remain extremely effective at treating hearing loss.

Discreetly tucked away

Behind-the-Ear models are perfectly discreet and loaded with modern technology for effective and top-of-the-line improvement. This type helps with severe and profound hearing loss and is the most common type of hearing aid you will see.
With a sound tube – sometimes referred to as a BTE, this type of hearing aid can help significantly. The small tube into your ear canal will carry sounds that has been perfectly programmed for your unique loss and adapted to your ear. They have a larger battery and can amplify more loudly for a more satisfactory result.

With a receiver in the ear – sometimes referred to as a RITE. This type of BTE aid puts the receiver directly into the ear canal. Instead of the clear tube, it has a hair-thin wire that connects a tiny speaker to the hearing aid, allowing the sound to be transmitted closer to the ear drum. The ear piece is often molded to fit the ear tightly and hold the receiver in place. These generally have smaller batteries and are more discreet but can be limited to certain degrees of hearing loss.

Just how visible are they?

Behind-the-ear hearing aids

The behind the ear hearing aid fits discreetly behind the ear. A clear, thin tube connects the part behind the ear to an earmold that fits inside the outer ear. BTE hearing aids are robust and easy to repair. They are suitable for all types of hearing loss. And they fit all sizes of ears since the custom earmold are replaceable if needed if the ear grows.

The slightly larger size accommodates more features. Telecoil, volume and program controls are easy to manipulate, and the larger battery size gives more power.

The BTE hearing aid is the most versatile.

We advice you to speak with a hearing care professional for more guidance on BTE hearing aids.

Types of hearing aids
Receiver-in-the-ear

The receiver in-the-ear hearing aids (RITE) are smaller than behind-the-ear hearing aids. These hearing aids are recommended for people with a mild hearing loss.

The RITE hearing aid is placed discreetly behind the ear and is connected by a thin wire with a speaker or receiver placed inside the opening of the ear or the ear canal for improved sound quality.

They are less noticeable than traditional BTE hearing aids but are more vulnerable to earwax build-up and moisture. With the receiver being in the ear, it can be damaged by wax as opposed to a BTE mould. However, as the dome is less occluding, this can sometimes slow down wax production due to better aeration.

We advice you to speak with your hearing care professional for more guidance on RITE hearing aids.

Types of hearing aids
Open-fit hearing aids

The open fit hearing aids sit behind the ear similar to the receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid. They are connected by a thin, almost invisible wire to a speaker.

An open fit hearing aid keeps the ear canal open, so sound can enter the ear more naturally. This allows you to hear background noises easier while the main sound, like voices, are fed through the hearing aid.

Battery size is larger than in the ear hearing aids and are available with convenient rechargeable batteries.

These types of hearing aids do not require an ear-mould.

Types of hearing aids

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