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Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids

The trend toward miniaturization has been driven largely by the desire for less visable hearing aids. Within the last several years, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids have become available and should meet the cosmetic needs of most users. These hearing aids fit deeply into the ear canal and are virtually invisible unless one peers directly into the canal. They are available from several manufacturers.

Candidates for CIC hearing aids are persons with mild to severe hearing loss. Patients with severe to profound hearing loss are not candidates for the CIC hearing aids because of limitations in the physical gain possible with these aids. Other potential hearing aid wearers may not be candidates for CIC's because of the nature of their hearing loss or because they lack the manual dexterity to fit and remove such a small hearing aids. Others have ear canals, which are too small to accommodate even the CIC hearing aid style and some hearing aid users can not tolerate long ear canal molds because of discomfort. Thus ear canal anatomy and individual manual skills play a part in determination of candidacy for the CIC hearing aid.

The impression used to make the hearing aid shell for the CIC must be taken with considerable accuracy and conform to the shape of the canal or the hearing aids can slip out or move when chewing. Some persons complain that the CIC is uncomfortable and in these instances the impression must be repeated.

Because the CIC fits deep into the canal, the output is closer to the eardrum and thus the amount of amplification available is greater for the same amount of power as in other hearing aids. Some patients report that the CIC sound is clearer than their previous aid and others find listening on the telephone is easier especially if they previously had to remove their hearing aids. Because the CIC fits so snugly in the canal, acoustic feedback or the all too common whistling sound familiar to hearing aid users, may be eliminated. Wind noise is also reduced because of the placement of the microphone inside the ear canal.

Unfortunately, you will discover that CIC's are more expensive than the more conventional in-the-ear hearing aids.

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