In-the-Ear or Behind-the-Ear: Things to Know about Hearing Aid Styles
Just like their wearers, hearing aids come in many shapes and sizes. Not every hearing aid is the right match for a wearer, and finding the perfect aid depends on your lifestyle, hearing needs and budget.
There are lots of things to consider when choosing an aid – the technology, the cost and the required care – but perhaps one of the most important things is the fit. A hearing aid’s fit has an enormous impact on the comfort of the wearer, and how happy you are to wear your aid every day.
So what is there to know about two of the most common hearing aid styles – in-ear styles (including Completely-in-Canal and In-the-Canal aids) and Behind-The-Ear (BTE) aids? Here’s what you should know when considering both for your next aid choice.
Power and Performance
Hearing aids operate thanks to their batteries – and depending on how large that battery is, your hearing aid can have differing life cycles. Plus, a larger battery often allows for more powerful amplification and more features. This is great for those who have more profound hearing loss and require more complex features like Bluetooth or feedback cancelling.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) aids can accommodate these larger batteries, so often BTE aids offer more power and longevity. This is also what makes them the most popular hearing aid style. The fact that the aid can sit comfortably behind the ear means there are fewer limitations on its size.
Completely-in-canal (CIC) and In-the-Canal (ITC) aids are also powerful, but their size is limited by the size of the ear canal. Sometimes CIC aids don’t offer quite as much flexibility in performance and longevity in exchange for a more discrete fit. For some wearers with less profound hearing loss, this trade-off is easily manageable.
Comfort and Fit
Different kinds of hearing aids are comfortable for different kinds of wearers, so lifestyle is a big factor when choosing a hearing aid that will be comfortable for you. BTE aids are larger, but that doesn’t mean they are less comfortable. Comfort often depends on the opinion of the wearer, and what type of comfort they’re looking for.
Some BTE aids are designed as Open-fit aids. Open-fit aids connect via a small tube and leave most of the ear canal open, which prevents the feeling of “clogging”. This also helps with the sensation of a wearer’s voice becoming distorted, which many find an important element of comfort.
Because a CIC or ITC aid must fit within the ear canal, some might feel they cause a feeling of clogging or blocking. However, many wearers don’t consider this sensation a nuisance, since most CIC or ITC aids are designed using ‘vents’, which allow some air flow into the canal.
Plus, since CIC or ITC aids are smaller and more discrete, many wearers prefer this style if they are especially active or want to keep their aid more hidden. A well-designed ear mold with these aid styles can improve sound clarity as well, since it cuts down on wind noise.
Care and Maintenance
Even the most dexterous of hearing aid wearers might find that the smaller the hearing aid, the harder they are to maintain and clean. BTE aids are larger and usually easier to remove and handle, while CIC and ITC are more difficult.
For wearers with limited mobility in their hands and fingers, BTE aids are often the best choice for ease. Aid wearers who don’t have limitations in their dexterity may consider the size difference an issue. This depends largely on how much a wearer values discretion above ease of maintenance.
Cost
There are many types of BTE hearing aids with differing features and prices. However, basic BTE hearing aids are almost always more affordable than basic ITC or CIC aids. That’s because there are fewer restrictions on size for components.
Of course, BTE aids with lots of features like Bluetooth, feedback cancellation and Life Learning may be in the same price range as ITC and CIC aids. Of course, investing in the perfect aid is important. A higher cost usually means an aid better equipped for your lifestyle and hearing needs, and is often worth the extra cash.
The best way to find the perfect hearing aid is to work with the experts. Our team at Desert Valley Audiology can help you identify the pros and cons of different hearing aid styles, and assist in your journey to find the perfect aid. Ask our team about getting a hearing test and finding the perfect aid for you!