RIC vs BTE Hearing Aids: Which Is Right For You?

If you are experiencing mild or severe hearing loss, it is likely your audiologist has brought up hearing aids to improve your hearing and prevent further hearing loss. You might be hesitant about getting them because you don’t know how they will look or if they will help. However, choosing the right hearing aids will improve your life. Making a choice depends on a few factors.

Your lifestyle is a huge factor when getting a hearing aid. If you have an active lifestyle, your hearing aid will be different from a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle. Another important factor to consider is the type or degree of hearing loss you are experiencing. Regarding hearing aids, the most well-known styles are behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) aids. Though they share similarities, they have some key differences.

What Is a Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aid?

A receiver-in-canal hearing aid style sits in your ear and sends sound through a thin tube connected to your ear canal. If you are trying hearing aids for the first time, this style might suit you.

What Is a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aid?

As the name suggests, this style sits behind the ear and sends sound into the ear canal through a tube. It is also a good choice if you are wearing an aid for the first time, so keep this in mind. This style of hearing aid can have many different features such as Bluetooth connectivity, directional microphones and more.

Similarities Between RIC and BTE

Both hearing aids have a hard case that sits behind the ear with components like a speaker, digital chip and microphone. The two styles have an earpiece that connects to the hearing aid through a tube or wire.

The Sizes

The traditional BTE hearing aid has all its electronic components housed in its case, making them larger and able to accommodate large batteries. On the other hand, RIC has sleek and slim features that are attractive to people who don’t like bulky designs. If you are looking for a more discreet option than a RIC hearing aid might be the best option for you!

Location of Speaker

This feature is one of the important differences between RIC and BTE styles. The speaker is responsible for transforming amplified electrical signals into aural sounds before sending them to the ear. Behind-the-ear aids have the speaker in a case with other electronic components, while receiver-in-the-canal aids have the speaker positioned at the end of a thin electrical wire linked to the case.

Amplification

An amplifier removes the noise in the electrical signals and improves the volume for easy hearing. The traditional BTE hearing aids accommodate larger batteries and have stronger amplifiers, enabling them to magnify high and low-frequency sounds. RIC hearing aid provides a significant range, but the amplitude cannot be compared with BTE aids. This advantage makes BTE hearing aids more suited for people experiencing severe hearing loss.

Which Hearing Aid Is Right for Me?

It would be beneficial to look at the pros and cons of the two styles to determine the right hearing aid for you. Talk with your audiologist to decide which style would be best for you and your hearing needs.

Pros of BTE Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are comfortable to wear while offering better amplification than most styles. They are appropriate for all types of hearing loss. The BTE hearing aid is easy to maintain and has a long lifespan because it does not make contact with the wax and moisture in the ear canal – the two things that damage hearing aids.

Cons of BTE Hearing Aids

The traditional BTE hearing aid might not be an easy pick for people who are conscious of style and visibility. Its large and thick case may cause discomfort to some wearers as well. Users are also susceptible to hearing wind noises in an open space.

Pros of RIC Hearing Aids

Receiver-in-canal hearing aids are more discreet because of their small and slim design. Instead of a noticeable ear hook, RIC hearing aids have thin wires which make sound clear due to the speaker’s proximity to the ear. They also deliver a more natural speaking voice because of the ability to minimize feedback.

Cons of RIC Hearing Aids

The RIC hearing aid is prone to damage caused by wax and moisture because the speaker is located in the ear canal. Though it offers good amplification, other hearing aids like the BTE have better amplification. Also, inserting, cleaning and removing it can be challenging due to its small size.

Contact Us Today

To learn more about the Hearing & Balance Services of Reston and to learn more about hearing aids, and what would be the right choice for you call us today at 703-260-6192.