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BTE behind-the-ear hearing aid is sits behind your ear with rechargeable battery

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

The most popular design on the market, behind-the-ear hearing aids combine a powerful battery with all of the ground-breaking features you want for your hearing health.  We're happy to help you explore.
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The world's most common hearing aid style

Versatility at its very best

The behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid is the most common design for a reason. It's versatility, power and flexibility is unbeatable. With an open-fit design that doesn't block the ear canal, you get the functionality of a powerful hearing aid, with a smaller, more discreet design.

With behind-the-ear hearing aids, most or all elements are centered in a case behind the ear. An earpiece is then placed in the ear, connected to the case with a tube or thin wire. Traditional BTE designs collect the sound and deliver it to a speaker behind the ear.

This sound is then transferred to the ear canal through a tube. Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) designs place the speaker directly in the ear canal.

 

Best BTE Hearing Aids

Widex BR3D hearing aid at HearUSA

Widex

With Widex's PureSound™, you can look forward to a pure, natural sound combined with a timeless design. There's no moment like the present to take back your hearing health.
Widex Hearing Aids
Signia IX at HearUSA

Signia

Combining award-winning style with the traditional benefits of the BTE design, Signia hearing aids are here to create the ultimate sound experience.
Signia Hearing Aids
Rexton bicore hearing aid range available in many styles for mild moderate and severe hearing loss

Rexton

Rexton’s BTE lineup - especially the rugged BiCore models, offers powerful, reliable hearing solutions packed with excellent battery life and modern conveniences like Bluetooth and app control.
Rexton Hearing Aids

Pros and Cons of BTE Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids offer powerful performance in a compact design with several benefits, but their size can also bring a few drawbacks.

Pros:
  • Suitable for any degree of hearing loss
  • Offer essential components in one compact design
  • Provide longer battery life
  • Easy to remove and maintain
  • Available in various designs and colors
Cons:
  • Can pick up more background noise
  • More visible compared to in-ear designs

Behind the Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids vs Other Hearing Aid Styles

Feature

Feature

Behind the Ear (BTE)
In the Ear (ITE) 
In the Canal (ITC)
Receiver in Canal (RIC) 

Visibility

Visibility

More visible, sits behind the ear
Less visible, fills outer portion of the ear
Nearly invisible, fits deep in the canal
Discreet, with a thin wire into the ear canal

Fit

Fit

Suitable for most ear shapes and sizes
Custom fit to the ear
Custom fit, very small size
Fits comfortably with open or closed domes
Power & Amplification
Power & Amplification
Most powerful, ideal for severe to profound hearing loss
Suitable for mild to severe hearing loss
Best for mild to moderate hearing loss
Suitable for mild to severe hearing loss
Battery Life
Battery Life
Long battery life (often larger batteries or rechargeable)
Moderate battery life
Shorter battery life due to smaller size
Good battery life; many rechargeable options
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Hearing aid fitting and adjustment

Adjusting to your BTE hearing aid

With behind-the-ear hearing aids, you can opt for custom-fit earpieces or instant fit. Either way, with the proper fitting, you can enjoy a comfortable hearing experience with BTE devices. With that said, any new device will take a bit of time to get used to.

Hearing aids work best when fitted and adjusted properly. Book an appointment to make sure your hearing aids fit right.

FAQs

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Found the perfect hearing aids, but unsure about the costs? Learn more about what's included, insurance plans and all of your financial options.
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