Hi, I’m looking for advice on pros/cons of ITE or ITC style HA compared to RIC or BTE style.
I have been wearing ITC/ITE HA’s for about 10 years. I am about to buy new HA’s, and was recommended to get either 1) Siemens Pure RIC (with molded piece, apparently my loss in high frequencies make the open fits unsuitable - unfortunately), or 2) Nu Ear Imagine 2’s as an ITC or ITE.
Are there noticeable differences in hearing quality:
-
microphone location in more natural location (in ear for ITC) vs behind the ear (RIC)
-telephone: I was always removing my ITC to use the phone, sound quality was better this way (using telephone volume adjustment) than using the HA (sounded distant, tinny, like coming from a radio) BUT this is how I lost my right HA (recently). Would the RIC/BTE style provide better quality sound on the telephone? I currently have an open-fit as a loaner from my HA dispenser (for the one I lost) and the sound is quite good on the phone (maybe because it’s open fit?) -
lifestyle:
- I’m a fairly active person (ultimate frisbee, cross-country skiing, various outdoor activities)
- would the RIC or BTE be more (or less) susceptible to moisture damage (sweat/rain), or dislodging from my ear during a ‘fall to ground’ type of movement in ultimate) -
any other pro’s or con’s for the RIC/BTE style compared to ITC?
Thank you,