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behind the ear hearing aids styles Audiologist , digital hearing aids Alder
Behind the ear styles
Private digital hearing aids are available in a range of sizes and technologies.
Here we explain some features and differences .
RIC - Receiver in the canal
These are small behind the ear hearing aids. They have some characteristics of in the ear digital hearing aids as the receiver (loudspeaker) is placed inside the ear canal but the microphones, processing etc. are placed behind the ear.
This is the most common style of digital hearing aid as it has the most advantages, feature packed and easy to use of all the hearing aids.
Advantages
- Suitable for a wide range of hearing loss, from mild to severe.
- Feature packed - even the very smallest RIC digital hearing aids have room for advanced processing, Bluetooth and rechargeable features.
- Comfortable to wear.
- Can be very discreet. The hearing aid behind the ear can be very small and the receiver wire going into the ear is very thin and difficult to see when in place.
Disadvantages
- As a component, the receiver, goes into the ear canal, it may not be suitable for people that produce a lot of ear wax or have wet ears.
- Some maintenance required. The domes and receiver wax guards will need to be replaced routinely.
BTE - Behind the ear
Behind the ear hearing aids hearing aids have all the components in one unit behind the ear and the amplified sound travels through a tube into the ear via an earpiece.
The ear piece and tubing can come in one of two form, instant fit (sometimes called open fit) or earmould.
Instant fit behind the ear hearing aids have a thin acoustic tube from the hearing aid with a small “rubber” dome that that sits in the ear.
Earmould behind the ear hearing aids have a thicker acoustic tube that goes into a custom made mould that fits in the ear. The mould can be made in a range of materials from hard acrylic to soft silicone.
Advantages
- Suitable for a wild range of hearing losses. Generally the most powerful digital hearing aids are BTEs so are suitable for even profound hearing losses.
- Feature packed, due to their size there is room for all modern technology such as advanced processing, Bluetooth, rechargeable batteries and even Telecoil loop system.
- Reliable - because no electronic components are placed within the ear, these means they can be more suitable for people with waxy or wet ears.
Disadvantages
- Cosmetics - larger unit behind the ear and wider tubes mean they are generally larger and more visible than other styles of hearing aids.
- Maintenance - tubes, domes and moulds will need replacing routinely.
- Updates - most manufacturers’ latest chips and features are launched first in other styles such as RIC and Custom hearing aids as these are the most popular. Sometimes the behind the ear hearing aid models available can be previous generation technology.