BTE v ITE – What’s the difference?
Hearing aids have come a very long way over the years, gone are the days of having a giant shell taking over your ear just so you could hear! These days, technology and design are evolving by the minute and your hearing options are endless. With this in mind we thought it might be time to share with you all the difference between a BTE (Behind the Ear) and ITE (In-the-ear) hearing aids.
BTE (Behind-the-ear)
BTE aids are recommended for people with all types of hearing loss &/or those with smaller ear canals. There are MANY different styles to choose from, and each style provides different levels of performance features. BTE aids are discreet and fit behind the ear, they are comfortable to wear and nowadays are much sleeker and slimmer then they once were. In most BTE’s- the microphone is located behind the ear with the sounds around a person wearing the aids routed through a thin, clear tube &/or a sleek wire which is located inside the ear.
ITE (In-the-ear)
ITE hearing aids utilize the natural acoustics of the users ears, they also use the capability of the user’s ears to amplify sounds naturally. ITE hearing aids can be more discreet than BTE aids, they usually fit entirely within the outer ear, reaching into the ear canal- in fact there are some ITE’s available on the market that are entirely invisible*! These hearing aids are usually recommended for people with mild to severe hearing loss. In the past, ITE hearings aids have not always had the same features that BTE aids have had, however as technology progresses this is no longer the case!
There is a misguided conception that ITE hearing aids are more expensive then BTE’s, whilst this may have been the case ‘back in the day’, it no longer is. Depending on the tier of technology your clinician has recommended, the pricing between the two are relatively comparative. At the end of the day, hearing aids are designed with one common aim – to restore as much of your natural hearing as possible.
To find our more about the best hearing solutions to match your lifestyle & needs, get in touch with our friendly local team. We are a 100% independent & locally owned hearing centre with clinics in Busselton, Vasse, Dunsborough, Margaret River & Augusta. Phone us on 08 9751 1899 to find out more.
