CIC - Completely in the Canal

Completely in the canal hearing aids (also known as CIC

 hearing aids) are, as the name suggests, hearing aids

which fit entirely within the wearer's ear canal. These

revolutionary devices are the smallest hearing aids on the

 market and are invisible to the average observer who doesn’t know they are there. Most major hearing aid brands and manufacturers now offer this inconspicuous alternative to traditional behind the ear, or BTE, hearing aids.

CIC hearing aids are custom made to fit deep inside the individual wearers ear canal and are said to mimic the natural auditory process more closely then any other style of hearing aid. They are best suited to people with a mild to moderate hearing loss. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into consideration when deciding between CIC hearing aids and the BTE models.

For audiologists, otologists, speech therapists and other

hearing professionals, the primary appeal of CIC hearing

aids are their acoustic advantages. They are able to closely

 simulate environmental, and more importantly, speech

sounds, patterns, nuances etc. This is imperative to a

hearing impaired individual’s competency with the spoken

word. Additionally, since CIC hearing aids are worn closer

 to the eardrum then their BTE counterparts, their

microphones are better able to amplify and therefore give a boost to any residual hearing the wearer may have. The advantage that is most often touted by the wearers of CIC devices, however, is their cosmetic appeal and inconspicuousness.