I have heard that behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids are the best. Is this true?

I personally think that BTE’s are the “Best Thing Ever” but not everyone who needs a hearing aid thinks so. Usually when a hearing-impaired person gets their first hearing aid they want it to be as unnoticeable as possible. So they will tend to get the receiver in the canal (RIC) or completely in the canal (CIC) models.

Vanity plays a huge part in the selection of a hearing aid. Sometimes I will ask people, “Are you planning on entering a beauty contest?” The answer is usually, “NO.” We are all conscious of what we look like but today people wear all kinds of hearing devices on their ears to help them hear. Ear buds to hear “hands free” for cell phones and other devices are very common and fashionable. These cool little gadgets are much more noticeable than a hearing aid.

The problem with all of the in the ear and receiver in the canal models is that wax and moisture can get into the receivers causing malfunctions and repairs. I have seen wax and moisture get behind the best wax guards available too. BTE’s have a mold, a tube and an ear-hook. Wax isn’t going to get past all three so the aid is safer. The tube can become clogged but it is easy to re-tube a mold to keep the tube clear. BTE’s are the most durable and longest lasting of all of the models. BTE’s usually have more volume and headroom for turning them up as the hearing gets worse. The directional microphones can also be helpful in back ground noise. The reasoning is simple. There is more room for the circuitry and inner workings. For severe hearing loss I have found the BTE to be louder and clearer hands down. And the mold is custom fit so it should be more comfortable.

For women with medium to long hair no one notices the BTE. For a man or woman with short hair it can be seen from behind pretty easily but BTE’s have become much smaller than they used to be. BTE’s come in many colors to match and blend in with your hair.

For people who wear glasses the BTE fits right along side of the earpiece on the frame and is not a problem for taking the glasses on and off. I haven’t had a patient yet that couldn’t wear a BTE due to their glasses.

To see how a BTE would look and sound you should make an appointment to try a demonstration aid or a loaner aid. You just don’t know how a hearing aid will look, sound or feel like until you try one.

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Tia Flynn is a certified audiologist who has been in business for more than 16 years. Every Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, she provides free hearing screenings at 1601 Third St. in Coeur d’Alene. (208) 664-2767. Visit our newly updated website www.affordablehearinginc.com to watch helpful videos or take an online hearing test.