What is the Difference Between BTE and ITC Hearing Aids?

You’re about to spend some money on new hearing devices, which means you need to have an in-depth chat with your audiologist about the options in front of you. There is a huge range of hearing aids available and you need to go through every option to decide which is right for you. There are a few out there on the market and they all have their differences.

Understanding how each difference could work for you is important so that you have maximum comfort with your new hearing aids. Exploring what is suitable for you will take some time and a big part of that is going to be comparing the pros and cons and hopefully the information you’re given is enough for you to make a choice.

In-the-canal (ITC) styles

This model is smaller than the in the ear aids, but they are larger than those that sit completely in the canal. ITC styles can fill just about half the ear and while they are visible to other people, you can choose a color that blends into your skin tone. This makes them more difficult to spot unless someone is looking right into your ear. Some of their benefits include:

• These are custom-made for the person wearing them. This means that they are far more comfortable to live with and they’re not as cumbersome as the behind-the-ear (BTE) models.
• They’re often a big compromise between the more-obvious BTE devices, so if you’re looking for a more discreet option, this is the better one out there.

These models are often better for those with mild to moderate hearing loss, as their batteries are smaller and so don’t have as long a life as the behind-the-ear type. It’s very easy to put in and take out and if you are wearing glasses, you won’t have to worry about them falling out. ITC hearing aids are great cosmetically, as well, because of how discreet they are.

BTE styles

These are easily the most recognized hearing aid style around. They fit directly behind the outer ear, with small tubing that connects to the ear canal. These are custom fit, much like the in the ear style, and they have a longer body. There are a couple of variations on the BTE style of hearing aid:

• Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids place the receiver in the ear tip instead of the main body.
• The mini BTE is similar to the original, but it does boast a very discreet appearance.

These are the hearing aids that accommodate a more severe hearing loss, as their battery lasts a lot longer and they’re easier to handle. There are the mini styles that are popping up on the market, which accommodate thinner tubes. The best way to know which is right for you is speaking to your audiologist.