Alexandria, Va—A recent survey conducted by Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), looked at the reasons for purchasing “thin-tube” BTEs and sought to determine if this relatively new product class is causing more people to seek a hearing solution via hearing aids.

The study analyzed the use of “thin-tube” BTEs—including open-fit, receiver in the ear (RITE), on-the-ear (OTE), and post auricular canal (PAC) devices —in 116 dispensing offices that were members of the BHI Referral Development Network (see www.hearingreview.com/article.php?s=HR/2002/02&p=2). Each office/practice was asked questions about their last 2 customers fit with thin-tube BTEs (ie, a sample of 232 customers).

Of these 232 customers in the survey, 68% were new users, and the average age was 60 years. When compared to MarkeTrak VII data (see www.hearingreview.com/article.php?s=HR/2005/07&p=1), this represents a 29% increase in new users and a more youthful customer base (by an average of 9 years).
Patient involvement in the decision to purchase a thin-tube device was deemed as “major” in 16% of the fittings, “minor” in 66% of the fittings, and “none” in 17% of the fittings, suggesting that the dispensing professional’s recommendation was the key factor in the purchase. The top-five reasons for choosing the aids were less occlusion, fit and comfort issues, better sound quality, greater patient benefit, and cosmetics.

A total of 1-in-5 (22%) consumers would have otherwise rejected all other hearing aid technology in the absense of the thin-tube device, according to the dispensing professionals surveyed. Compared to traditional products, the hearing care professionals reported that 55% of their patients were “significantly more satisfied” with the thin-tube devices, while 36% were “more satisfied,” 8% experienced “equal” satisfaction, and 1% were “less satisfied.” 

Results from the survey suggest that the appeal of thin-tube BTEs are due to (in order of definite benefit):

1. Less occlusion;
2. Fit and comfort;
3. Better sound quality;
4. Better benefit;
5. Visibility
6. Directional mics;
7. Hearing healthcare provider recommendation;
8. Looks less like a hearing aid;
9. Instant fit;
10. Less returns;
11. Responded to ads;
12. No ear impression
13. Customer recommendation;
14. More power;
15. Colors;
16. More controls.