What Are Invisible Hearing Aids?

Invisible hearing aids are one of the many different types of hearing aids that are available on the market. They are typically characterized by how discreet they are, and advancements in technology also mean that they can be pretty powerful, despite their compact size. 

Invisible hearing aids are popular amongst those who prioritize the visibility of their hearing aid over added features and benefits. Let’s explore more about invisible hearing aids, what their benefits and drawbacks are, and whether or not invisible hearing aids would be the right fit for you.

Types of hearing aids

As we mentioned, invisible hearing aids are one of many types of hearing aids that are on offer. It’s important to consider all aspects of form and function, to make sure you get the most suitable hearing aids for your lifestyle and needs. Our hearing is unique, and so are the expectations we have from hearing aids, which is why it is important to understand the full range of hearing aids on offer.

Invisible hearing aids

As the name suggests, invisible hearing aids, also known as invisible-in-canal (IIC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, sit deeply inside your ear canal so that they are practically invisible to the naked eye. Invisible hearing aids are often custom fitted to your ear canal because the shape of our ear canals differs from person to person. 

They do not contain any external bodies, tubes, or wires, which means that the entire device sits entirely inside your ear. While it is still amazing to see how advanced these discreet hearing aids are, they do have some limitations. Mostly, invisible hearing aids cannot offer the same number of enhanced or convenient features as a behind-the-ear (BTE) device, such as Bluetooth, or streaming.

Unfortunately, because of the compact size, invisible hearing aids also suffer from short battery life. They are typically not able to offer binaural coordination between the two hearing aids - which means that any changes made to one hearing aid are not automatically applied to the other. 

In saying this, there are plenty of benefits to still be had by invisible hearing aids. The biggest is that they offer a discreet style, some may never even know you have a hearing aid in your ear.

Due to the position of the device, it also offers a “more natural sound experience”; a feeling that is amplified by the fact that there are no tubes or wires coming out of your ear. Lastly, invisible hearing aids are also less likely to pick up wind noise which may cause feedback in other hearing aids. 

Behind-the-ear hearing aids

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, as the name suggests, are hearing aids whose main body sits behind the ear, and comprises a hard plastic shell to house all the components, a thin flexible tube that extends from the hard shell, which connects to a dome (or receiver in some cases) that sits inside your ear. This shape is most commonly associated with the stereotypical aesthetic of a hearing aid - the beige shell behind the ear with a tube into the ear. 

BTE devices are still one of the most popular types of hearing aids, especially devices that place their receiver in the canal (RIC hearing aids). Unfortunately, the main drawback is that they are still visible on the outside of the ear, although they are not nearly as large and obtrusive as they once were. BTE devices have advanced to be much more compact and discreet, while still packing a multitude of added features and benefits for convenience.

The main advantage of BTE devices, then, is that they are able to offer some of the most comprehensive lists of features out of all types of hearing aids. Commonly, BTE devices offer Bluetooth connectivity, music, media, and phone call streaming, as well as prolonged battery life and excellent sound quality. 

In-the-ear hearing aids

In-the-ear hearing aids (ITE), or inside-the-ear, are hearing aids that are inside the ear, similar to invisible hearing aids. Where ITE and invisible hearing aids differ is that ITE devices are not necessarily as discreet and non-visible as their invisible counterparts, and could still be seen, albeit not as obvious. They comprise a small body that typically houses all the internal parts of the hearing aids that are then inserted directly into your ear, without external tubes or wires. 

A disadvantage of in-the-ear hearing aids is that they are not as discreet as their invisible counterparts. While they are not nearly as obvious as BTE devices mentioned above, they are still far more visible than either CIC or IIC devices. Their small size could also mean that they are easier to lose if you are not careful with them. 

An advantage of in-the-ear hearing aids is that they are typically more feature rich than IIC or CIC devices, thanks to their slightly larger size. They generally offer better and prolonged battery life too, when compared to CIC or IIC devices, again thanks to their larger size. ITC hearing aids are able to support quality-of-life features such as Bluetooth connectivity, streaming for media and phone calls, as well as rechargeable batteries, such as those found in Go Hearing. 

Should I choose invisible hearing aids?

Invisible hearing aids are perfect for wearers whose priority is discretion and invisibility. Since invisible hearing aids are so small, they, unfortunately, do have to remove some beneficial features such as Bluetooth connectivity, streaming, and even rechargeable batteries. Invisible hearing aids are suited for those who are simply after a device that allows them to hear better in various environments, with no added thrills or frills. 

If that sounds like you, then yes, you should absolutely go for an invisible hearing aid. They will provide the discretion you are after, and there is little chance that anyone will even know that you are wearing a hearing aid. However, if you are after better features that offer more customisability, convenience, and rechargeability, then invisible hearing aids are likely not for you, and you should look at a BTE device (if features are your priority) or an ITE device (great “meet-in-the-middle” alternative). 

Go Hearing Aids

Go hearing aids are excellent and feature-rich in-the-ear devices that arrive ready-to-wear. Go Hearing devices are fully rechargeable with up to 30 hours of usage with each 3-hour charge. The included charging case can recharge your hearing aids up to six times before needing to be recharged.