Top invisible hearing aids

Types of Invisible hearing aids

Invisible hearing aids are hidden deep in the ear canal and, like most hearing aids, there are a number of styles or variations to these type of hearing aids. They are custom made hearing devices requiring an impression of your ear is required to fit them.

Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) and Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)

IIC (also known as Micro-CIC) and CIC are very similar in design. IIC hearing aids fit deep within the ear canal at the second bend and are very discreet, being near invisible to other people. CIC hearing aids fit about one to two millimetres inside the aperture of the ear canal, these are still difficult to see due to being hidden by the tragus. Both are what the marketing refers to as an invisible hearing aid.

The benefits of IICs and CICs are they use the natural shape of the ear to collect sound and provide a natural listening experience without the need for directional microphones. But unfortunately, while being custom fit, not all ear canals will be large enough for IIC or CIC hearing aids, your audiologist will measure you up and advise you accordingly.

In-The-Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids, as the name suggests, also sit in the ear canal however they protrude past the tragus. This means they are more visible than IIC or CIC hearing aids, which can be a deterrent for some.

That being said, they can be made to match your skin tone and therefore are not obvious to others unless they know what to look for, or they can be coloured black to look like wireless earbuds. The greater size offers space for a larger speaker, meaning they are suitable for greater hearing loss. The bigger casing also allows for more features including directional microphones, wireless connectivity, and lithium-ion batteries for rechargeability.

Advantages of Invisible hearing aids

The natural resonant frequency of your ear (individual to every person) is preserved as the microphone sits deep in the ear canal.
You retain your innate localisation abilities due to the positioning of the hearing aid
The invisibility of the hearing aid – its ‘cosmetic’ appeal – means no one has to know your hearing levels aren’t what they used to be.

The tiny size of these hearing aids means they often miss out on some more advanced features such as Bluetooth connectivity and Rechargeable Batteries.

Are your ears suited to invisible hearing aids?

There are a number of factors to take into account when deciding if invisible hearing aids are suitable for you – they aren’t for everyone. Being small can be cosmetically appealing, but a reduction in size also has some drawbacks. You should look at the pros and cons of invisible hearing aids before deciding if these are the models you wish to try.

How do they work?

Invisible hearing aids sit deep within the ear canal, so the technology that makes them work is very small. Each manufacturer will use their own particular technology but some common factors include

Small battery (size 10), that requires changing every 4 – 7 days (except the Phonak Lyric invisible hearing aid)
Removal handle – thin fishing wire to allow for easy removal
Wireless technology – this is mostly so the hearing aids can ‘talk’ to each other, but some IICs do utilise Bluetooth streaming through accessory devices

Pros

Discreet – small and basically invisible make these types of hearing aids attractive for those who don’t want to bring attention to their hearing loss
Powerful for their size – if you have hearing levels up to a moderate or even moderately-severe you can wear an IIC.
Customised to your ears – these hearing aids are measured to precisely fit your ear canal shape and size. They will fit snugly and hopefully you won’t notice you’re wearing them.
Bluetooth streaming available in limited models – Starkey IIC hearing aids have Bluetooth streaming. It won’t be long until other hearing aid companies bring out streaming capabilities in their invisible hearing aids.

Cons

Prone to breakage – IICs sit deep in your ears and can get blocked up with earwax and other debris. When wax gets into either the receiver or microphone your hearing aid won’t work properly and will need to be sent away for repairs
Repairing your IICs will need to happen at least annually and while they’re being repaired, you won’t have any device to augment your hearing.
The size and shape of your ear canal may make the IIC uncomfortable, or your ear shape be not even be suitable for this type of hearing aid.
Invisible hearing aids are not as powerful as the BTE and RIC models. If you have hearing levels greater than in the moderate range, an invisible hearing aid may not be powerful enough to make speech loud enough for you to hear.
Less features available due to their smaller size. Not only the less power is available, but also, there is less room to fit in all the features found in BTE and RIC models.
If you suffer from any ear conditions such as dermatitis, otitis externa or fungal infections, these conditions may impact on your ability to wear invisible aids successfully.
Other physical factors could limit your ability to successfully wear an IIC, such as arthritis in your fingers or reduced vision.

Phonak Lyric invisible

100% Invisible hearing aids – yearly subscription

Extended wear hearing aids – keep in for months at a time
Wear all day, every day, even when exercising
Water resistant so you can wear in the shower or participating in water activities where your head isn’t submerged
Placed in the ear by your HHP trained in fitting Lyric hearing aids
No batteries to change
Clear, natural sound

Signia Silk Charge & Go IX

Silk Charge&Go IX is so tiny and snug that many people will not even notice you are wearing it. Powered by advanced hearing aid technology that helps you hear in noisy environments; Silk is designed to fit your lifestyle. It is small, comfortable, and easy to recharge. You can control it with a simple app on your phone.

Ready-to-wear
All-day power
Focus on what matters
Personalised control at your fingertips

Oticon Own™
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)

Oticon’s very discreet Completely-in-the-Canal hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal. It is available in a range of colors to match your skin tone. A small removal string is accessible making removal easy and discreet.

ReSound Custom IIC

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are the smallest invisible hearing aids available, and they are most suitable for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Sitting deep inside the ear, the custom style is so small that there simply isn’t room for extra powerful speakers and stronger processing power. Completely-in-Canal (CIC) and In-the-Canal (ITC) invisible hearing aids are popular choices for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who want a little more control over their hearing aids.

Widex Evoke CIC Micro

This smart hearing aid intuitively analyses your sound environment and reacts to changes for natural, effortless hearing today and every day. And because of its ability to learn from the hearing experiences of every user, EVOKE keeps evolving to grow even smarter tomorrow.

Available colous: Clay Brown / Dark Brown / Light Beige

Phonak Virto P-Titanium

Virto Paradise is custom made to fit the exact shape of your ears, with unrivaled sound quality for your everyday listening needs. Plus, Phonak Virto P-312 provides universal connectivity which allows you to seamlessly stream audio content from numerous Bluetooth® enabled devices.

Fits your exact ear shape
Provides brilliant speech understanding
Offers crisp natural sound

Signia Active Pro

The revolutionary Signia Active Pro earbuds not only stream music and phone calls via Bluetooth in high-definition sound – they enhance your overall hearing experience, especially in difficult acoustic situations.

Key Features:

Bluetooth Streaming
Recharge on-the-go
AI Digital Assistant
Instant Fit

Bernafon ALPHA Invisible-in-the-Canal(IIC)

A very small and exceptionally discreet hearing aid style that gives the best sound without compromise. It is designed to fit entirely into the ear canal, making it invisible to other people in most cases. This in-the-ear hearing aid is custom-made to fit the shape of your ears precisely and comfortably.

Bernafon ALPHA Completely-in-the-Canal(CIC)

A small and very discreet hearing aid style that gives the best sound without compromise. It is designed to fit almost entirely inside the ear canal, making it barely visible for other people to see in most cases. The small faceplate can house an optional push-button, allowing you to change between programs. This in-the-ear hearing aid is custom-made to fit the shape of your ears precisely and comfortably.

Starkey Genesis AI

A smaller hearing aid style that gives the best sound without compromise. It is custom-made to fit the shape of your ears precisely and comfortably, and lets you choose a push-button to control the volume and program. An optional telecoil lets you connect to audio loop information systems in public places. Optional Bluetooth® Low Energy wireless technology lets you connect to your phone, enabling control via the Bernafon App. You can make hands-free calls, stream music and audio, and connect to other devices and accessories.

Supports either Bluetooth or telecoil

Starkey Evolv AI CIC

Evolv AI offers friendly AI paired with advanced connectivity, including to more Android devices than ever before. Experience and enjoy your favorite TV, music and conversations, thanks to superior sound quality and effortless streaming. Evolv AI also features health and activity trackers so you can monitor your health.

Healthalble hearing technology with embedded sensors and artificial intelligence
Tinnitus Technology
Wireless Connectivity
TV Streamer
Remote Control
Mini Remote Microphone
Table Microphone

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