There are several types of hearing aids available for people who have difficulty hearing. While every style of hearing aid has unique advantages and disadvantages, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids have become one of the more common choices.Continue reading for details that will help you decide if a BTE hearing aid is for you.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids are among the most readily identifiable listening devices. These devices feature a banana-shaped plastic case that rests behind the ear and is connected to a smaller component which is placed in the outer ear. The case section of the instrument is the hearing aid itself. This section (typically called the case) holds all the electronics and batteries required for the hearing aid to operate, along with the controls that make it possible for the user to choose between features and programs. The portion located inside the ear is called the ear mold. Ear molds are very carefully tailored for each individual user, making them a comfortable way to transmit sounds from the case to the ear.
BTE hearing aids have many distinct advantages. For starters, because of the case’s larger dimensions, the BTE holds larger batteries, conferring upon it a longer battery life between charging and delivering more powerful amplification abilities. This larger size of the BTE also enables more features, including telecoil, directional microphones and Bluetooth. In addition, the larger casing makes BTE hearing aids easier to handle than smaller ones, which makes changing batteries and cleaning the instrument less difficult for individuals with more limited dexterity and eyesight.
The biggest disadvantage of a BTE hearing aid is its visibility. It’s incredibly difficult to disguise the fact that you’re wearing a hearing aid if you choose to use a BTE. For people who want to disguise the fact that they’re wearing a hearing aid, it is possible to disguise them by purchasing a case colored to match their skin tone. Wind noise can also be a challenge with behind-the-ear hearing aids, though many of them now have hardware and software features available to reduce or eliminate this concern.
If it sounds as though pros of BTE hearing aids exceed the cons, you may have found the best to suit your needs. Consider talking to your hearing instrument specialist to find out more.