What are the good and bad points about invisible hearing aids?

One of the best kinds of hearing aids you can find, invisible hearing aids are fitted within the inner ear to be almost completely undetectable. Compared to over the ear hearing aids, or ones that are visible within the ear canal, invisible hearing aids are fitted much deeper, offering people who are self conscious about their hearing loss a more discreet alternative.

Invisible hearing aids also have benefits for users that want a more natural sounding listening experience. While it’s worth reviewing these benefits for invisible hearing aids, it’s also important to consider some potential complications and issues with personal compatibility and pricing.

Invisible Hearing Aid Strengths

Confidence

Anyone that’s self conscious about wearing a hearing aid can benefit from invisible hearing aids, which are placed deep inside your ear canal and fitted with moulds. Younger people with hearing loss and children can particularly enjoy improved hearing without being concerned about their appearance, which can lead to improved confidence.

Enhanced Audio Quality

Invisible hearing aids also have the advantage of using their placement to provide excellent hearing quality; digital processors rely on sound being naturally directed from the outer ear into the ear canal – this can help to create a clear signal, reproducing what someone would normally hear. An invisible hearing aid can also provide excellent sound quality for phone calls and listening to music.

Comfort

Hearing aids that are worn within the ear, rather than being removed, can become less of an irritation for wearers – trained audiologists produce a cast of an ear, which is then used to ensure that invisible hearing aids are comfortable, and can be worn throughout the day and night. While invisible hearing aids shouldn’t be worn underwater, and should be regularly maintained, they can be much more comfortable than other types of hearing aids.

Invisible Hearing Aid Weaknesses

There are some potential problems with invisible hearing aids that should be considered, although they primarily relate to individual complications and physical unsuitability. Unfortunately, not everyone is suited to having an invisible hearing aid, especially if the dimensions of a person’s canal are not wide enough to support having one fitted. Suitability can be assessed by a consultation from an audiologist.

Moreover, while the sound quality for invisible hearing aids is generally excellent, some can lack the twin directional microphones of other hearing aids, meaning that it’s more difficult to make manual adjustments. Bluetooth and loop systems can similarly be an issue, as can rare occlusion problems caused by hearing your own voice echoing through your inner ear.

It’s also worth remembering that the trade off for having an invisible hearing aid is their price, with top brands like Starkey and Phonak typically costing a thousand pounds and more; you’ll also have to buy invisible hearing aids yourself, rather than going through the NHS. However, the benefits of an invisible hearing aid can outweigh these costs, and once fitted, can provide discreet and comfortable sound quality for a long time, with only a small amount of adjustment.

Author Bio

Olivia regularly blogs about hearing loss and the solutions available through the NHS and private companies. She recommends getting a consultation to see whether invisible hearing aids are right for you.