What are the 3 Main Hearing Aid Styles?

For the hearing aid industry, there have been many advancements in the past few decades. The hearing aid was once only available in one style, a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. Most people will know what these are; they are worn behind the ear with a small tube that connects to the receiver. These are designed for all levels of hearing loss and offer easy handling and power. 

Now, there are more hearing aid styles on the market than you might imagine. Yet, not all are suitable for every level of hearing loss. Nor are they satisfying people's individual needs and preferences. For instance, in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are not ideal for those who have profound hearing loss. However, they are beneficial for those who want complete discretion. 

BTE devices

The BTE hearing aid is the most traditional style on the market. Although they might seem old-fashioned, they are still very popular due to their ease of use and practicality for those with profound hearing loss. Their design includes a case that sits behind the ear and contains the receiver and microphones, which detect and then process sounds. These amplified sounds are then sent through a small plastic tube over the top of your ear (which also serves to hold the receiver casing in place) into an earmold that transmits the sounds to your ear.

BTE's used to be large devices. Now, they can be much smaller to suit the needs of those who do not want them to be a prominent feature. 

ITE hearing aids

In comparison, an ITE hearing aid is a device that sits within the ear. An ITE sits comfortably in the bowl of the ear, making them slightly visible but still discreet. These are custom-made to fit the ear's size and shape. They are easy to take out and put back in. Similar to BTE hearing aids, as they sit outside of the ear canal, they can pick up wind noise. These devices are suitable for mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss. 

An ITE hearing aid device is one of the most popular as it sits between a BTE and ITC to offer comfort and also provide enough power for moderately severe hearing loss.

ITC technology

The in-the-canal (ITC) style of hearing aid is similar in design to an ITE, yet they are made to sit within the ear canal. They are slightly smaller and create less wind noise as they almost completely block the ear. 

Their smaller size may mean that they are less visible to others, but it does also mean that they aren't typically as powerful as some of the larger styles. However, if you only have mild-to-moderate hearing loss and are looking for a reasonably small, comfortable, and easy-to-use hearing aid, then ITC could be a great choice for you.