Behind the Ear Hearing Aid Tech | The Best from Injoy

What Is a Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aid?

A behind the ear hearing aid places the microphone, amplifier, and speaker (receiver) in a case that sits behind your ear. Sound is delivered into the ear canal through either a clear plastic tube or a thin wire, depending on the model. There are two major categories of BTE hearing aids:

• Traditional BTEs: These use a plastic tube to send sound into a custom earmold.
• RICs (Receiver-in-Canal): A subtype of BTE, RICs place the speaker directly in your ear canal, connected to the main body by a tiny wire.

Both types are technically BTEs because their main body sits behind the ear, but their configurations lead to different performance and comfort profiles. This often confuses buyers who think RICs are a separate category—they’re not. They’re simply the more discreet cousins of traditional BTEs, using a wire instead of a tube and often providing more natural sound by placing the receiver closer to the eardrum.

Learn more about BTE technology and comparisons in this study.

BTE vs. RIC: A Tale of Two Behind-the-Ear Styles

While both BTE and RIC hearing aids fall under the “behind-the-ear” umbrella, their internal designs serve different needs. And yes, we know: hearing aid lingo can sound like alphabet soup.

Traditional BTEs have been around for decades, and for good reason. They are built like tanks, often used for people with more severe hearing loss or for pediatric patients. Their tubing and earmold create a tight seal and allow for higher amplification with less risk of feedback. The downside? Visibility and the sometimes-occlusive feeling of a plugged ear.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are a relatively newer innovation. Here, the receiver (speaker) is tucked directly into your ear canal, and a nearly invisible wire connects it to the body of the device behind your ear. This separation of parts allows for smaller casings, more natural sound quality (especially for open-fit designs), and less feedback. They’re popular, discreet, and, thanks to technological advances, just as feature-packed as their bulkier siblings.

Still, traditional BTEs beat RICs for people with dexterity challenges, power needs, or concerns about durability.

Why Choose a BTE Hearing Aid?

Whether you choose traditional BTE or a RIC-style BTE, you’re getting the behind-the-ear power and performance that made these devices the workhorse of hearing health. But the reasons to choose a BTE go well beyond volume.

First, consider amplification. No other style handles severe or profound hearing loss like a full-size BTE. They can crank out high gain without squealing feedback. And thanks to their external position, they avoid the earwax and humidity that clog and kill in-the-ear devices.

Battery life is another win. BTEs can accommodate larger batteries. That means more hours of hearing, fewer swaps, and less risk of running out of juice halfway through your granddaughter’s school play.

Let’s not forget handling ease. For anyone with arthritis, tremors, or visual impairments, BTEs are just easier to deal with. No fumbling. No lost domes.

Finally, BTEs are the go-to style for kids. Why? Because kids grow. Their earmolds need to change regularly. A BTE allows that without replacing the whole device.

What’s New in BTE Tech for 2025?

The newest BTE hearing aids are sleek, smart, and stylish. They’re not just louder; they’re smarter.

Gone are the days of static microphones. Directional mics in today’s BTEs identify speech and lock onto it. Whether it’s your partner across the dinner table or your coworker at a crowded meeting, your hearing aid focuses in.

Noise reduction no longer means silencing the world. It means understanding your environment and preserving speech while softening chaos. Your hearing aid now knows the difference between background music and a barking dog.

Bluetooth streaming is standard. You can take calls directly in your ears, stream Spotify while walking the dog, or catch the morning news from your smart TV. With universal Bluetooth, even Android users finally get some love.

And the newest buzzword? AI personalization. These devices learn from your behavior. They adapt over time. They anticipate your needs. You may not need to change programs manually ever again.

Exploring Today’s BTE and RIC Hearing Aids by Brand

Let’s go brand-by-brand and dive deeper into some of the most exciting BTE and RIC models leading the way in 2025.

Phonak: Power and Connectivity

Phonak’s Audéo series, especially the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio RIC, exemplifies BTE design innovation. With the mic and amplifier behind the ear and the speaker nestled in your ear canal, this RIC-style BTE offers AI-powered speech enhancement and automatic environmental adaptation.

Its SmartSpeech™ Technology makes conversations easier, even in wind or crowds. Motion Sensor Hearing adjusts your settings when you’re moving, walking, or sitting still. Tap Control is a crowd-pleaser: tap your ear to answer calls, pause music, or summon your voice assistant. Want a full-size BTE? The Naída Lumity BTE delivers super-powered gain for profound hearing loss and supports direct Roger microphone streaming.

Compare Jabra hearing aids to Phonak hearing aids. 

Starkey: The AI Pioneer

The Edge AI RIC has redefined what hearing aids can do. Built on Starkey’s Deep Neural Network engine, it mimics how your brain processes sound. It continuously optimizes for clarity and comfort—without needing manual input.

This RIC comes with fall detection, engagement tracking, and activity monitoring. It even doubles as a fitness tracker. Starkey’s larger BTE models also offer waterproof coating, telecoil support, and tap controls. And with the My Starkey app, you can adjust settings, locate lost devices, or send data back to your provider.

ReSound: Clarity Meets Customization

ReSound’s OMNIA and Nexia RICs feature their signature Organic Hearing™ processing. They’re designed to replicate how the natural ear filters and balances sound. With Ultra Focus mode, wearers can hone in on speech in the worst noise environments—like dinner at your favorite (read: loud) steakhouse. The newest ReSound Vivia RIC builds on Nexia’s innovations with faster AI processing and even more personalized sound adaptation for speech clarity in complex environments.

ReSound also builds Check My Fit into their app, helping you place the device correctly for peak performance. Want a traditional BTE with these benefits? ReSound’s Enzo Q BTEs deliver high-power performance for severe-to-profound hearing loss with Bluetooth streaming and remote care options.

Understand more about the ReSound Vivia and the Phonak Sphere. 

Oticon: Brain-Centric Sound

The Oticon Real miniRITE RIC leads Oticon’s charge with its BrainHearing™ approach. Instead of amplifying isolated speech, it presents a balanced soundscape that helps your brain naturally filter noise.

The Real platform includes SuddenSound Stabilizer to smooth out jarring noise (slamming doors, clattering dishes). And Wind & Handling Stabilizer cuts out rustling sounds from hair or hats. The Oticon Xceed is their powerhouse traditional BTE model for people with profound hearing loss, offering up to 146 dB SPL and full streaming support.

Signia: Real-Time Genius

Signia’s Pure Charge&Go IX is their flagship RIC for 2025, featuring RealTime Conversation Enhancement that tracks multiple speakers and adapts on the fly. It can even shift its focus as people move around you.

Own Voice Processing 2.0 makes your voice sound normal (you’d be surprised how rare that is). Their traditional BTE models like the Motion Charge&Go SP X combine rechargeability with powerful amplification, built for people with demanding hearing needs and busy lifestyles.

Signia’s Signia Assistant adds a personal AI coach into the app, fine-tuning settings based on how you use your devices and providing support anytime.

Telehealth and Remote Adjustments: BTEs Go Digital

Whether you’re sporting a micro-RIC or a robust BTE, remote care is now part of the experience. With apps from Phonak, Starkey, ReSound, Oticon, and Signia, you can:

• Schedule virtual appointments
• Send feedback to your hearing provider
• Get real-time programming updates
• Monitor battery life, usage patterns, and device performance

This is particularly useful with Injoy Hearing’s online model. We bring hearing care directly to you, making premium BTEs accessible without leaving your couch.

Design, Comfort, and Confidence

2025’s BTEs don’t just work better—they look better. Models are slimmer, sleeker, and more stylish than ever before. Choose from:

• Modern color palettes (champagne, silver, graphite, beige)
• Curved shells that hug your ear discreetly
• Ultra-soft domes and hypoallergenic earmolds

Whether you’re pairing with glasses, sunglasses, or a mask, today’s BTEs fit comfortably and stay put.

BTEs Are the Backbone of Better Hearing

RICs may get the buzz, but every RIC is still a BTE. And BTEs—in all their forms—continue to offer the best combination of performance, flexibility, and durability.

From deep AI personalization to super-powered sound for profound hearing loss, the newest BTEs deliver more than just volume. They deliver confidence, connection, and clarity.

Injoy Hearing makes it easy to find your fit. Shop online for the best behind-the-ear hearing aids of 2025, and get personalized support every step of the way.

Hear smarter. Stream clearer. Choose your BTE today. Contact Injoy Hearing.