ITE (In The Ear) hearing aid

The ITE hearing aid is the next model up from the BTE hearing aid in terms of size minimisation.

Its big advantage is that it fits inside the ear rather than behind it and there are no tubes or behind-the-ear cases. An ITE hearing aid will be more expensive that a BTE aid, but considerably cheaper than the ITC and CIC hearing devices.

How it fits and works

The ITE hearing aid fits into the main opening of the ear, but not the ear canal itself. It will normally fill the "cup" of the ear completely and has no other fittings or components. The fit of the ITE ensures that it is comfortable and that it stays in position.

ITE hearing aids can be skin toned to make them less visible and there are variants on the design that are smaller and only fill a part of the ear.

The battery, electronics and amplification of an ITE device are all housed in the single piece ear mould and this makes the hearing aid compact. There is no transition of the amplified sound through a tube, as is the case with a BTE aid.

Advantages and features

The big advantage of this type of aid is its reduced size when compared to a BTE device. However, in comparison to the ITC and CIC devices it is still quite large and this means that it can still accommodate a good sized amplification system. The benefit of this is that an ITE hearing aid is sufficiently powerful to cater for those with moderately severe hearing loss, something which the ear canal aids cannot always do.

Disadvantages

Most of these disadvantages are common to all small hearing devices and they become magnified as the aids become smaller.

As hearing aids get smaller they become more difficult to fit and handle and easier to lose. Whilst an ITE aid is not overly small it can present fitting difficulties to someone with arthritis or unsteady hands.

Because of its size (i.e. smaller than a BTE hearing aid) an ITE may not be able to offer sufficient amplification for those with a severe loss of hearing.

Having both the microphone and the receiver housed in the same casing can result in feedback. This is a problem that increases as miniaturisation brings these components into closer proximity. The same is true with the ear canal mounted hearing aids.

Any hearing aid that is placed in the ear or ear canal can be subjected to moisture and ear wax, both of which can damage the device. ITE's are normally supplied with cleaning instructions and a small hearing aid cleaning brush which should be used when necessary.

Because of its size an ITE hearing aid will be visible in the ear if it is not covered by hair. This may not be acceptable to some people.