As indicated by the name, hearing aids behind the ear have a design that allows the main body of the hearing aid to sit behind the ear. A clear, discreet tube is then connected to an ear mold or dome and placed inside the ear canal.
Hearing aids behind the ear are the most widely used types of hearing aids on the market today. Recently, they have become smaller (the same is true for in-the-ear hearing aids), more adaptable, and much more powerful.
Take 1 minute to find out what hearing aid model suits your preferences.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid type would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid type would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid type would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid type would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Based on your answers the following hearing aid types would suit your needs:
*The result of the quiz may only be used for guidance and is not meant to replace a more accurate measurement of your hearing abilities and needs by one of our hearing care experts.
Learn about and compare the different styles
The RITE and the smaller miniRITE hearing aid is placed discreetly behind the ear and is connected by a thin wire which places the speaker or receiver inside the opening of the ear or ear canal.
A clear, thin tube connects the main body of the hearing aid (nestled behind the ear) to an earmold or dome that fits inside the ear canal. The following features make BTE hearing aids a versatile option:
The 4D user intent sensor technology inside Oticon Intent™ uniquely adapts to each moment using breakthrough sensors, manages wind and unpredictable sounds, and has been designed to be smaller yet more powerful than previous behind-the-ear models.
Open-fit (also called Corda miniFit) is a thin tube mounted on behind-the-ear hearing aids with a dome or micro mold as an earpiece.
An ultra-thin, discreet solution, delivering all the benefits of open fittings:
Learn about what to expect from hearing aids behind the ear
Pros |
Cons |
| Comfortable Because they do not sit deep inside the ear canal, some users find them more comfortable. |
Might be more visible Since BTE hearing aids are tucked behind the ear, they might be more noticeable than smaller in-the-ear hearing aids. |
| Rechargeable batteries They are available with both disposable and rechargeable battery options. |
More likely to pick up wind noise: The behind-the-ear placement means that these devices are more likely to pick up wind noise, but recent technology provides solutions for counteracting the issue. |
| Bluetooth® connectivity They can connect wirelessly to smart devices with Bluetooth®. |
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| Suitable for severe hearing loss They can cater to more severe hearing loss levels than some other hearing aid types. |
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| Longer battery life They include larger batteries, allowing for a longer battery life. |
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| Easier to keep clean Since only the ear mold or dome comes in direct contact with the ear canal, they are less vulnerable to moisture and wax build-up. |
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| Fewer issues with feedback This benefit is achieved by the microphone and receiver being placed farther away from each other than in some ITE hearing aids. |
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| More open-fitting The thin tube that sits in the ear canal provides ample air ventilation. |
‡Expected use time for rechargeable battery depends on use pattern, active feature set, hearing loss, sound environment, battery age and use of wireless accessories.
