Benefits & Style Characteristics of BTE, Life and ITE Hearing Instruments

BTE and ITE types have different benefits concerning cosmetics, wearing comfort, hearing loss and user needs.

The advantage of wearing an ITE is that it is custom made for the individual's ear and tailored to his/her preferences.

It is small and fits directly into the ear canal. For some, this is cosmetically more attractive than a BTE. For some styles, the ITE is practically invisible.

An advantage of a BTE is it can offer more power and in certain applications be more inconspicuous.

Depending on the dexterity of the user, BTEs may offer a handling advantage because they are larger in size.

Life products are only suitable for certain hearing losses, but they can often be the most comfortable hearing instruments to wear.