Behind The Ear or BTE hearing aids have been around for a very long time. In the recent past, they have got smaller, more versatile and more powerful. Let’s talk about BTE hearing aids.

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids (BTE)

Overview:

• What is a BTE Hearing Aid
• How do BTEs work?
• What hearing losses do BTE hearing aids cater for?
• What are the different types of BTE hearing aids
• What BTE hearing aids have Bluetooth?
• Can you shower with a behind the ear hearing aid?
• What are the advantages of BTE hearing devices?
• What are the disadvantages of BTE hearing devices?

There are three major main types of hearing aid: Behind The Ear (BTE), In The Ear (ITE) and Receiver In Canal. Each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking of buying a hearing aid, it is worth spending some time thinking about which type would be best for you. Ideally, you should visit an audiologist or aid vendor who will give you a hearing assessment and advice on which aids would be most suitable for you. Modern BTEs are a far cry from traditional hearing aids, today’s behind the ear hearing aids are smaller and more discreet than ever before. This style of hearing device is available in many different shapes and colours and over recent years, they have gotten much smaller than they once were. They are hugely versatile devices and they will fit nearly every hearing loss.

What is a behind the ear hearing aid

Behind the ear hearing aids have a main shell section, an earmold and a connecting tube. The main shell houses all of the electronics and the battery. The BTE hearing aid hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. Traditionally a plastic tube connects the hearing aid to a custom earpiece called an earmold that fits in your ear. More recently many of the hearing aid brands have introduced thin tubing, (thin plastic tubing) which connects BTEs to the ear. Thin tubing can be used with a generic dome or a custom tip. Thin tubing is very discreet but it is not suitable for all hearing losses.

How do behind the ear hearing aids work?

A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and then sends them to the ear through a speaker. All of these components are within the shell of the BTE which sits on your ear. The sound is transferred to your ear through a tube and earmould or tip. 

What hearing losses do BTE hearing aids cater for?

BTEs are exceptionally versatile and they cater for all hearing losses from mild all the way to severe to profound. 

What are the different types of BTE hearing aids

Generally, there are four types of behind the ear hearing aids, Mini BTEs, Standard BTEs, Power BTEs and Superpower BTEs. Normally the manufacturers will make different styles for differing losses although with the advances in hearing aid technology that has changed a little. Traditionally there would be:

• Mini BTE: Very small and discreet BTE that would generally cover mild to moderate/severe hearing losses. These types of hearing aid are often fitted with thin tubes. 
• Standard BTE: Slightly larger than the MINI and would usually have more options such as a Tele-coil, a programme button and perhaps a volume control. This BTE would be good for mild to severe hearing losses. These types of hearing aid can be fitted with traditional or thin tubes. 
• Power BTE: This device would be designed to cover severe hearing losses. They will nearly always come with a programme button, volume control, Tele-coil and usually the ability to use FM systems. These types of hearing aid are normally fitted with traditional tubes and earmoulds. 
• Superpower BTE: This device is for profound hearing loss. Even the superpower devices have become quite small in comparison to the older styles. Again, these would be fully loaded with programme button, volume control, Tele-coil and the ability to connect to FM systems. These types of hearing aid are fitted with traditional tubes and earmoulds.  

What BTE hearing aids have Bluetooth?

Most modern BTEs are Bluetooth hearing aids, even if they need to use an intermediary streamer. There are also direct connection, or so-called Made For iPhone BTE hearing devices. Made for iPhone BTE hearing aids include:

• Signia Motion 13 Nx BTE Hearing Aids
• Signia Motion 13 P Nx BTE Hearing Aids
• Signia Motion Charge N Go Nx
• Resound LiNX 67 BTE Hearing Aids
• Resound LiNX 77 BTE Hearing Aids
• Resound LiNX 88 BTE Hearing Aids
• Resound Enzo ET-88 BTE Hearing Aids
• Resound Enzo ET-98 BTE Hearing Aids
• Oticon BTE 13 PP

Can you shower with a behind the ear hearing aid?

Most modern BTEs are rated waterproof, however, it’s best to remove your hearing aid from your ear before showering, bathing or swimming. While they are graded waterproof most hearing aid brands envisage that being tested by rain showers, not necessarily you scuba diving. So, you can get those hearing aids wet. However, why take the chance of something going wrong. 

What are the advantages of BTE hearing devices?

We believe that BTE hearing aids are some of the best hearing aid types around for several reasons, the advantages are:

• Strong control: BTE hearing aids are usually fully functional devices that offer superior user control options.
• Tele-coil: Nearly all BTE devices except for some of the Mini BTEs come with a Tele-coil.
• Extremely reliable hearing aids: BTE hearing aids are some of the most reliable hearing aids around and tend to keep working for a very long time
• Easy to handle: BTE hearing aids are pretty easy to handle and because they come in a host of different battery options there is nearly always one that you can use even if you have limited dexterity. 

Fully Functional

BTE hearing aids nearly always have a full load of hardware including volume controls, programme buttons, and telecoils. The telecoil is a useful addition if you want access to loop systems in public buildings like churches, conference centres, the post office. In fact, many taxis in London are fitted with loop systems. Even though wireless communication systems in hearing aids is now the norm, the telecoil is still a good thing to have. The only issues that occur in relation to it are how well the loop system is working or how well it has been fitted. 

Extremely Reliable Hearing Aids

BTE hearing aids are probably the most reliable of hearing aids, they very seldom fail. Because all of the components are encased in the hearing aid and the hearing aid is worn at the back of the ear, very little or no wax or moisture can get at them. When something goes wrong with a BTE it tends to be either the physical controls or the microphones. Nearly all of the manufacturers have introduced new types of microphone covers that almost completely enclose the microphones. So even microphone failure may be a thing of the past.

Easy To Use

BTE hearing aids tend to be easy to handle and place in the ear, so for people with dexterity or vision issues, they are a good choice. 

What are the disadvantages of BTE hearing devices?

I have thought about this long and hard for quite a while and I don’t really see any disadvantages. Discretion might be an issue for some, but even that isn’t as true as it once was. A small BTE with a thin tube is a very discreet hearing aid to wear. It would be almost as discreet as many of the RIC / RITE devices. Even the larger BTEs are a lot more discreet than they once were. The other issue is that you wear it over your ear, for some with glasses that is an irritant, but I wouldn’t call it a disadvantage. 

What are the contra-indications to wearing BTEs?

I am stuck for any contra-indications to wearing a BTE apart from the obvious that you have no ear really.

New research is hoping to understand how the human brain hears sound to help develop improved hearing aids and automatic speech recognition systems.

Led by the Universities of Southampton and Cambridge, the research aims to develop physiologically-inspired algorithms, which mimic how our brain hears sound to improve on traditional signal processing algorithms.

The novelty of the research is that instead of looking at signal energy – as today’s artificial devices do – the researchers are concentrating on how the brain processes sound information instead.

Dr Stefan Bleeck, from the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton, is looking to create algorithms based on neuronal responses to give insights into how sound is coded within the brain. Once researchers know better how sound is coded, they will be able to select the parts that code speech and the ones that code unwanted noise. They will then be able to resynthesize sound in hearing aids with reduced noise, but with quality intact, to enhance speech intelligibility.

Today’s speech enhancement systems can reduce noise and increase speech quality, but they are not good at improving speech intelligibility, especially in noisy situations where users have to concentrate to pick out single speakers. With about 10 per cent of the UK population hearing impaired, current signal processing technology hasn’t come up with a suitable system to enhance speech intelligibility.

Dr Bleeck says: “Today, it is still the ultimate goal for the speech signal processing community to develop speech enhancement systems that perform as well as humans in noisy situations. Normal hearing humans still easily outperform any technical system – sound processing in the brain is more successful than signal processing in silicone. A system that works as well as a human would lead to the next revolution in human communication and would greatly benefit hearing impaired people.

You can read this press release in full at the –>Southampton University website.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED! 

Enter this great hearing aid battery giveaway and don’t spend another penny on powering your ears for a whole year!

All you have to do for you chance to win is leave a comment below and tell me the following:

1. How long have you been wearing hearing aids?
2. What type do you wear?

Yeah, it’s that easy! So what are you waiting for?

Competition rules: Only one entry per person. The prize is 120 (20 x 6 packs) Rayovac hearing aid batteries of any size. No cash alternative to prize will be offered.

Competition closes on Sunday 21st February. A winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.

Don’t forget to leave your name and correct email address when entering so that I can contact you if you win. This competition is open to everyone, I will ship the prize anywhere. Good luck!

When people think of hearing aids, they might think more of old ear trumpets than high-quality, advanced devices, but the integration of Bluetooth with hearing aid technology is changing that. Hearing aid manufacturers are lately using Bluetooth as a tool to improve their products, and each manufacturer is taking a different approach.

I first became aware of Bluetooth technology and hearing aids in 2009, when I purchased a set of Oticon Epoq aids through my audiologist. The Bluetooth technology used by Oticon allows my hearing aids to communicate to each other, allows me to listen to music without headphones, and make calls without holding the phone up to my ear.

What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth has actually been around since 1994, created by Ericsson, a telecommunications company. Bluetooth can seem mysterious, but it’s actually pretty simple – it uses radio frequencies to allow devices to communicate without cables or wiring. Bluetooth essentially creates a tiny wireless network between multiple devices, for a multitude of purposes.

What Good is Bluetooth for Hearing Aids?
Bluetooth can be used to allow a wearer’s hearing aids to communicate with hands-free devices, like music players and cellphones. It can also be used to allow two hearing aids to communicate to one another, which enhances a user’s hearing experience.

Bluetooth hearing aids often come with an additional device, specific to each manufacturer. The cost of this device could be bundled into the price of the aids or could come at an additional cost. My audiologist threw in my Streamer device for free with my purchase of Oticon Epoq hearing aids in 2009, so look around for good deals.

What Are Some Examples?
The hearing aid manufacturer Oticon uses Bluetooth in their Streamer device. The Streamer is paired with both the hearing aids and the devices a person wants to use. It acts as a go-between, and is worn around the neck. This is the device I use. In my experience, the Streamer is pretty reliable, but getting the Streamer paired with the hearing aids can be a little tricky; it needs to be done by an audiologist.

Oticon also sells a line of products under their ConnectLine brand, which includes an adapter for televisions, and landline phones. For cellphones and other devices that have Bluetooth built in, all you need to do is pair the Streamer with the device, and it will automatically send sounds directly to your aids.

I have not tried the following technologies, but they are definitely worth researching, as part of the overall process when looking into new hearing aid technology:

Phonak uses a device called the iCom, which seems to operate similarly to the Streamer, and is similarly worn around the neck; Seimens uses Tek Connect, which is also similar. Starkey customers who wear behind-the-ear hearing aid can use the ELI, or Ear-Level Instrument, which attaches to the hearing aid itself. And ReSound’s Alera hearing aids can use their Unite accessories. What’s nice about the Unite accessories in particular is that they require only the accessory and the hearing aids, no extra wires or cables.

Other companies seem to be getting into the Bluetooth accessory ballgame when it comes to hearing aids. For example, Nokia has introduced their Wireless Loopset, which allows users with T-coil equipped hearing aids to have a connection to their cellphones. The loopset allows for more control than many of the accessories from hearing aid manufacturers – it can not only control volume, but also volume range and frequency.

What Should I Think About Before I Buy?
First, talk things over with your audiologist. By working together, both of you can determine whether or not new hearing aids would be a good fit for you.

Consider your lifestyle and what you would use a Bluetooth hearing aid for. You’ll need to keep track of not only the aids, but also another accessory, and remember to keep it charged. You may need to upgrade your gadgets (cellphone and music player) for Bluetooth compatibility, and you may need to make an extra visit or two back to the audiologist to ensure everything gets properly paired and set up correctly.

In my opinion, Bluetooth hearing aids represent a solid step forward in hearing aid technology – as long as you do your research.

This is a guest article by Megan Sparks.

Megan Sparks is a 24-year-old native resident of Arizona, who has been blogging about deafness, tech, and assorted geekery at Hearing Sparks since she upgraded her hearing aids in 2009.

In time for the holidays, Hear the World is offering a special kind of gift: international stars such as Jude Law, Elle Macpherson, Lenny Kravitz and Laura Pausini have been photographed by rock star and photographer Bryan Adams for the Hear the World initiative. These pictures are exclusively available for you to admire in the Hear the World calendar 2010.

Reserve your copy of this limited edition calendar now for EUR 19.90 / USD 29.90 / GBP 17.89 / CHF 29.90 to support the charitable projects run by the Hear the World Foundation. All net sales proceeds will go to the Hear the World Foundation. This Foundation is committed to using its financial resources and supplying hearing systems to improve the quality of life for people who suffer from hearing loss.

You can get yourself one from the Hear The World website.

This is from the iTunes hearing loss simulator app store page:“Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a hearing loss? Do you have a family member with hearing loss? The Hearing Loss Simulator allows you to choose a specific hearing loss configuration and then listen to sounds as though you have that particular hearing loss. The Hearing Loss Simulator contains pre-recorded common sounds and has the option to let you record your own voice for playback through the different hearing loss configurations. The Hearing Loss Simulator includes graphics to show where the common sounds, speech, and individual speech sounds are located for loudness and frequency.”

This looks great! I wish I had an iPad just to get this app (which isn’t going to happen seeing as iPads are £500 here in the UK). I’m going to email Starkey to see if there’s an iPod version.

There are for main types of hearing aid: Behind The Ear (BTE), In The Ear (ITE), In The Canal (ITC) and Completely In Canal (CIC). Each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking of buying a new hearing aid, it is worth spending some time thinking about which type would be best for you – ideally you should visit an audiologist or aid vendor who will give you a hearing assessment and advice on which aids would be most suitable for you.

In The Ear (ITE)

ITE models are the largest of the models that fit completely in your ear – only the BTE is larger. As the picture shows, they tend to fill the ear completely. They are less powerful than BTE aids, but more poweful then ITC or CIC aids. Usually, they are large enough to offer features such as a directional microphone, telephone switch or larger amplifier.

The electronic components in ITE aids are housed in much smaller space than with BTE aids – this means that the microphone and receiver wil be closer to each other and feedback can be a problem. This is also the case with ITC and CIC models.

This type of aid is normally recommended to people with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss. Consideration should be given to their size – they are more difficult to handle than BTE aids and fitting and removing them can be fiddly.

Because the electronic components of ITE hearing aids are inside your ear they are suspectible to damage from ear wax and moisture. You should receive a set of brushes and other tools to help you keep your ITE aid clean and in good working order.

A drug pump which is implanted in the ear is the latest approach for tackling tinnitus. It works by releasing a powerful new medicine that calms the overactive nerves thought to cause the condition.

Tinnitus is a ringing, whistling, buzzing or hissing noise heard for no obvious reason. It may be constant, or come and go.

It is estimated that about 15million people in the UK experience tinnitus at some time. For 10 to 15 per cent of sufferers, the condition is so loud and debilitating it affects sleeping and concentration. It has also been linked to depression and anxiety.

Tinnitus is linked to a number of factors, and can be a side-effect of some medication. It is estimated there are more than 200 medicines, including aspirin, that can cause it. Known as ototoxic medications, these drugs have the potential to damage the delicate structure of the inner ear, causing temporary or permanent hearing problems.

Tinnitus may also be the result of nerves in the ear sending faulty messages. This may be the result of a brain chemical called glutamate causing the nerve cells to become hyperactive.

Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss – some scientists believe that when hearing is damaged in some way, by exposure to loud noise for example, there is excessive production of glutamate.

The high levels of the chemical then trigger excessive nerve firing, or hyperactivity, which results in the sufferer hearing sounds that aren’t actually there.

Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are products available to mask the sound.

Patients may also be offered tinnitus retraining therapy, which is based on the idea that the nervous system can be trained to regard the noise as insignificant.

The new therapy, developed by U.S.-based company NeuroSystec, uses a drug known as NST-001.

Read this article in full at the Daily Mail.

Related posts:

1. Tinnitus Cure ‘is a step closer’

If you’ve ever phoned a computer support helpline or asked your company’s I.T. support team for help then you’ve probably heard these immortal words:“Have you tried turning it off and then on again?”

It’s become a bit of a joke but it actually works and solves many computer problems. A computer has two types of memory, one is physically stored on a disk and is remembered every time you use the computer and the other is a short-term memory that is forgotten every time you switch off. If the thing causing problems is in short-term memory then restarting solves the problem.

I guess you can see where I’m going with this?

Hearing aids are mini-computers, they have the same long-term and short-term memories. A hearing aid is running computer software that analyzes the sounds coming into your ear and converts them to something you want to hear based on configurations and settings made by the hearing aid manufacturer and your hearing aid provider.

Just as with computers, hearing aid software can sometimes go wrong (maybe due to a software bug) and so quickly switching it off and then on again may help you hear through until you can get back to the audiologist to get it fixed properly.

Scientists have found what could be the root cause of tinnitus, raising the hope of a treatment in the near future. In studies carried out by Scientists in Australia, increased activity in the auditory brainstem where sounds are processed were found and linked to changes in the genes involved in regulating the activity of the nerve cells.  Pathways that normally keep a lid on nerve signal transmission were blocked and others were more excitable than usual. Although this research was carried out on guinea pigs, the team believe their findings will ultimately help people with tinnitus. Lead researcher Professor Don Robertson said, “Identifying genes associated with spontaneous nerve cell activity is crucial. It means that it may be possible to use drugs to block this activity and treat conditions such as tinnitus in the future.”

From Audio-Infos

Related posts:

1. The drug that could end the misery of tinnitus