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CIC completely-in-canal hearing aid nearly invisible for optimal discreteness

When less is more

With a completely-in-the-canal design, your hearing aid can be your little secret. Staying well out of the way, CIC hearing aids let your ear perform its natural function, delivering a clear, natural sound you'll love. Let’s learn more together.
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Completely-ln-CanaI (CIC) hearing aid
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Completely-ln-CanaI (CIC) hearing aid

The great things about a CIC

Completely-ln-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are a smaller variation of ITE hearing aids. Instead of sitting in the outer bowl of your ears, they sit completely within your ear canal. By necessity, this means that CIC hearing aids are smaller in order to fit in the more confined space.

They also cannot have any manual controls, such as volume wheels or program buttons. You must make adjustments to those settings using a remote control of some kind.

Completely-in-canal Signia Hearing aids
CIC hearing aids are common for people who are using hearing aids for the first time. This is because they are even smaller than ITE hearing aids and have less power, so they are not suitable for people who have more severe levels of hearing loss.
However, the smaller size does offer some benefits. Because they fit completely in your ear canal, it can produce a more natural sound. It achieves this by using the natural shape and characteristics of the concha and ear canal.

Advantages

  • Smaller and more discreet than even ITE hearing aids
  • Less prone to feedback or interference from wind noise
  • More natural sound and sound quality since it can use the natural shape and contours of your ear canal
  • Custom fit to comfortably sit in your ear
  • Better for people who wear glasses or masks that hook over and behind your ears

Disadvantages


  • More susceptible to earwax and moisture damage than even ITE hearing aids
  • Less comfortable for people with small or narrow ear canals, such as children
  • Problematic for people prone to chronic ear infections
  • Less able to use rechargeable batteries
  • Less suitable for people with dexterity issues than even ITE hearing aids
  • Will not contain some features, like directional microphones
Different hearing aids types

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Hearing aid types

Are you looking for hearing aids? Hearing aids come in a variety of types and styles, which can be broken into two main categories. We will talk about each type of hearing aid as well as the advantages and disadvantages of them.
Types of hearing aids
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FAQ

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids: FAQ

Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are a great option for those who prefer a small, discreet hearing aid and are living with mild to moderate hearing loss. Comfortable, custom fits and sound delivered directly to the ear canal deliver high-quality, natural sound with the benefit of a nearly-invisible design.
Yes, completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are generally comfortable for their users. This is thanks to the custom fit and their direct placement in the ear canal, reducing the chance of movement. Since they are inside the ear canal, they do not get in the way of things such as glasses, masks or phones.
While completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are placed deep in the ear canal, in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids sit in the lower portion of the outer ear. The CIC design is very discreet and almost invisible to others. While also small, the ITC is slightly bigger, allowing for increased battery life and room for additional features.
With a small design that contains leading technology, the price of a CIC hearing aid will vary depending on features and brand. An approximate price for completely-in-the-canal hearing aid can range anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000.
CIC stands for completely-in-the-canal hearing aid. It is one of the smallest hearing aid designs, sitting directly in the ear canal next to the eardrum. CIC designs are almost invisible to onlookers and contain a simple removal tab that is visible in the outer ear.
There are quite a few CIC hearing aids on the market today. Some of the top brands, including Signia, Widex and Rexton, offer CIC hearing aids with a discreet, comfortable fit and a high-quality, natural sound regardless of the sound environment.
While completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are placed in the ear canal, invisibile-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids are placed even further, behind the second bend of the ear canal. That means they are completely hidden to onlookers. IIC hearing aids are generally even smaller than some CIC hearing aids.
While completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are placed in the ear canal, receiver-in-the-ear (RIC) hearing aids house the microphone and amplifier behind the ear and are connected with a wire to the receiver placed inside the ear canal. While both are discreet, CIC hearing aids are almost unnoticeable to onlookers.

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Which Type of Hearing Aid is Right For You?

Choosing hearing aids involves considering various factors, including your level of hearing loss, ear size and shape, budget, preferred features, and stylistic preferences.

Your ideal choice may not align with your initial preferences, as factors like profound hearing loss or small ear canals may limit certain options.

Consulting with a hearing care expert during a clinic visit, where a full hearing test and consultation are conducted, will help you identify suitable types based on your needs and preferences. From there, you can explore different brands and models to find the right fit within your budget with the desired features.

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The barely-there look

Enjoy the comfort of a custom fit without sacrificing sound. With ITC hearing aids, you get the best of both worlds. We’re happy to show you how.
ITE in-the-ear hearing aid sitting snugly inside your ear

In-the-ear device, out-of-this-world experience

Comfortable, discreet and powerful—you'll feel ready to take on anything with your tailor-made, ITE hearing aids. Want to learn more?
RIC receiver-in-canal-hearing is light and discret sitting behind your ear

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Who said you have to compromise style for quality? Find the right receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid for your lifestyle and get back to living your best life.

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