ITE Hearing Aids: In-Ear Innovation
ITE hearing aids sit in the outer bowl of your ears rather than in the canal itself. In order to fit everything in the ear, these models are smaller. The smaller size means they must use smaller batteries, sound processors, microphones, and so on.
That means the batteries don't last as long, and they have less sound amplification than BTE models. That makes ITE hearing aids less suitable for people with severe levels of hearing loss.
On the flip side, ITE hearing aid models are more discreet, so it's harder to notice that you are wearing them. There is a wide variety of ITE hearing aid sizes to suit people with different ear sizes and shapes.
They are larger and more powerful than the other two varieties of ln-The-Ear models. They can still have more advanced features like directional microphones but won't have as many features as BTE models.
Because of the smaller size, there are usually few if any buttons or external components. The whole unit is in one piece, and you can use a remote control or smartphone app to adjust the programs and volume settings.
It is a simple process to put the hearing aids inside your ears like they're ear plugs and pull them out when you want to remove them.
Advantages
- Smaller and more discreet than Behind-The-Ear hearing aid models
- Better suited to people who wear glasses
- More comfortable to wear for people who live an active lifestyle, like playing sports or other physical activities
- More powerful sound amplification and battery life than other in the ear varieties
- Less prone to feedback or interference from wind noise
- More comfortable than BTE varieties with only the component In-The-Ear, not having two components behind and inside it
- Custom fit to comfortably sit in your ear
Disadvantages
More susceptible to earwax and moisture damage- Less comfortable for people with small or narrow ear canals, such as children
- Problematic for people prone to chronic ear infections
- Small size can be a problem for connectivity to wireless devices
- May pick up more wind noise than smaller custom devices
- Only suitable for those with mild or moderate hearing loss
- Use depends on the size of the ear canal
- Don't typically come with rechargeable batteries
- Not suitable for people with dexterity issues
