Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
This type of aid consists of the device itself which sits behind the
ear, a custom ear mold which sits inside the ear, and a small clear
flexible tube that connects the aid to the earmold. Some of the pros
and cons are as follows:
Advantages:
This style can be fit to the widest range of hearing losses.
1. It can come with a larger number of features than other styles.
2. It has larger batteries and controls, making it easier to use for someone with vision or dexterity problems.
3. It has the lowest chance of causing acoustic feedback or “whistling”.
4. It has relatively low visibility, depending on the hairstyle worn.
5. It is larger and harder to misplace.
Disadvantages:
1. Requires a little more maintenance than other hearing aid styles because the tubing needs periodic changing (approximately every six months or so) and a new mold.
2. May be more difficult to put on if manual dexterity is limited.
3. May be more visible if the ears are small or hair is very short.
4. Requires slightly different positioning of the telephone receiver.
Most Suitable For People Who:
1. Have severe-to-profound hearing loss or a steeply sloping audiometric hearing loss pattern.
2. Have widely fluctuating hearing levels.
3. Need the additional features.
4. Prefer this aid’s style/appearance to other styles.