What are the advantages of invisible hearing aids?

Invisible hearing aids have several benefits, including:

• Discretion: The main advantage of invisible hearing aids is that they are not noticeable to others when being worn. Being placed inside the ear canal, they are virtually invisible to others, addressing the stigma associated with wearing visible hearing devices.

This can be particularly important for people who are self-conscious about their hearing loss, or who do not want others to know that they are wearing a hearing aid.

• Comfort with customization and fitting: Invisible hearing aids are generally more comfortable to wear than traditional hearing aids, as they do not have any visible parts that can rub against the skin or get caught in hair.

In regard to fit, audiologists take impressions of the wearer’s ear canal, ensuring a perfect fit. This personalized fitting contributes to enhanced comfort and reduced chances of discomfort or feedback, making them ideal for extended wear.

• Improved sound quality: Because they are located closer to the ear drum, invisible hearing aids can provide better sound quality than traditional hearing aids. They are also less prone to feedback (whistling) than traditional hearing aids, which can be a common issue for people with severe hearing loss.

Invisible hearing aids utilise sophisticated digital processing technology, allowing for advanced sound processing and noise reduction. These devices can adapt to various listening environments, delivering clear and natural sound to the wearer.

• Speech understanding:  Speech understanding is crucial for communication, and invisible hearing aids are designed to prioritize this aspect. The proximity to the eardrum ensures that sound vibrations are accurately transmitted, leading to improved speech perception even in challenging listening environments.
• Compatibility with active lifestyles:  Invisible hearing aids are an excellent option for individuals with active lifestyles. Whether they are engaged in sports, outdoor activities, or simply prefer a less obtrusive hearing solution, these devices offer a seamless fit and eliminate worries about their appearance.

Disadvantages of small hearing aids

Small hearing aids come with certain limitations and considerations.  While invisible hearing aids offer numerous benefits, they might not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with severe hearing loss may require more powerful devices, which might be challenging to fit into the small form factor of invisible hearing aids.

Here are some of the main disadvantages of invisible hearing aids:

• Features:  In the Ear hearing aids historically don’t have the same feature catalogue as other styles.  This is because of the size of the devices and not having enough room to store such technology.  This means that invisible hearing aids have shorter battery life.
• Sound:  Because ITE hearing aids sit inside your ear, the sound is collected and amplified.  You don’t have the assistance of directional microphones, which are hugely beneficial if you find a conversation in noise difficult to understand.
• Connectivity:  BTE hearing aids provide advanced Bluetooth connectivity for phone calls and streaming audio and TV programmes.  You might miss out on Bluetooth connectivity with most IIC or ITE hearing aids, so if this is important to you then you need to look at other options.