21st April 2015

Invisible Hearing Aid Types Available Across Scotland

We use many different hearing aid manufacturers, this strategy allows us to fit what is best for you. each of the manufacturers has hearing aids that are labelled Invisible. we thought we would do a run down on what is available at our centres and clinics across Scotland.

The Widex IIC

The IIC is small enough to be placed very deep inside the ear canal, making it virtually invisible with fantastic sound quality by Widex. Despite its small size, the IIC comes with outstanding Widex technology. It benefits from the Widex Sound – natural sound that doesn’t just help users hear speech or loud sounds, but all the sounds around them. The Widex IIC is placed deep into the ear canal so no part of it can be seen.

A Truly Invisible Hearing Aid?

The IIC is placed deep, beyond the second bend of the ear canal. So yes, it is truly an invisible hearing aid.  You must have enough space in your ear canal to accommodate the IIC, narrow canals or sharp bends in the ear canal rule out the IIC model. It's clever, all-in-one design means that all the electronics of the hearing aid are placed in the shell to provide the ultimate small fit. Unlike other hearing aids, the Widex IIC has no joined parts and therefore, no hard edges – adding extra comfort for hearing aid users.

Who Is The Widex IIC Suitable For?

The IIC is not suitable for everyone for two reasons. The device will only fit certain dimensions of ear canal, if your ear canal is too narrow or has too tight a bend it might not be suitable. Other contra-indications are things such as excessive waxy ear canals or perforated eardrums. If you face these issues, the IIC or in fact any invisible hearing aid, may not be the product for you. In these cases, other types of discreet hearing aids may be more advisable to consider.

The Widex IIC is available in three technology levels, IIC 10, IIC 5 and IIC 3+ .

Outstanding features of the IIC include:

• Perfect fit: each IIC hearing aid is custom made to ensure a perfect fit
• Better localisation: tight fit means users can better determine where sounds are coming from
• All-purpose use: can be worn in all listening situations
• Durability: all components are contained in one unit making it extremely durable
• More comfort: no joined parts mean there are no hard edges

The IIC model is available in the MENU hearing aid family.

Phonak Truly Invisible Hearing Aids

The Phonak Nano is more than just a tiny hearing aid. It is the perfect combination of hearing performance and minimum size. Phonak produce a custom crafted hearing aid to fit entirely in your ear canal, using computer-aided design and the latest generation of advanced materials. Comfort is guaranteed while delivering the typical outstanding Phonak sound quality.

Due to the deep position in the ear canal, the Phonak Nano, like other hearing aids of its type, uses the natural shape of the ear to transmit sound to the microphone which means excellent directional hearing, as well as virtual invisibility.

A Truly invisible Hearing Aid?

The Nano sits deep in the ear canal, the front of the hearing device is in permanent shadow because of the depth it sits at. It is deep enough into the ear canal to be to all intents and purposes is an invisible hearing aid. 

Who is the Phonak Nano suitable for?

The Nano is not suitable for everyone for two reasons. The device will only fit certain dimensions of ear canal, if your ear canal is too narrow or has too tight a bend it might not be suitable. Other contra-indications are things such as excessive waxy ear canals or perforated eardrums. If you face these issues, the Nano may not be the product for you. In these cases, other discreet hearing aids may be more advisable to consider.

Outstanding features of the Phonak Nano include:

• Perfect fit: each IIC hearing aid is custom made to ensure a perfect fit
• Better localisation: tight fit means users can better determine where sounds are coming from
• All-purpose use: can be worn in all listening situations
• Durability: all components are contained in one unit making it extremely durable
• More comfort: no joined parts mean there are no hard edges

The Phonak Lyric

Of course we also supply the Phonak Lyric Invisible hearing aid at Edinburgh Hearing. The Lyric is a a long wear hearing aid. It is a deep sitting hearing aid that we insert into the ear canal. it will stay there for between 2-4 months. At the end of this period we will extract the hearing aid for you and supply you with a new one. It truly is an invisible hearing aid, not being able to be seen in the ear as it is beyond the second bend of the ear canal.

The first ever IIC with wireless technology

Would you like a hearing device that no one else can see? Oticon IIC is designed to be unnoticeable to everyone else, and unnoticeable to you, too. Up until now, the ultra-compact IIC has come at the price of reduced features and limited use cases. Not anymore. Oticon's new IIC instruments with wireless technology make it possible to combine all the benefits of invisible hearing aids, outstanding listening performance, wireless access to communication and entertainment and the optional remote control.

An Invisible Solution

 

This is Oticon’s most invisible hearing solution. It is shaped to fit so snugly deep inside your ear that no one will see it, or even realise you are wearing it. It means that you can keep your hearing loss a secret, and enjoy the many benefits of modern hearing care, without any noticeable change to your appearance. Not only is it invisible to everyone else, Oticon IIC is designed to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, so that nothing gets in the way of your regular daily routines. It blends inconspicuously and completely into your lifestyle, so that you can continue to play an active part in life. The sound level adapts automatically as sounds and places change throughout the day, so you will always have the sound you need to participate on an equal footing with everyone else.

Oticon IIC will also have minimum impact on the rest of your lifestyle – fitted inside your ear, it will not affect your use of headsets or telephones, nor how you wear your glasses, or even how you do your hair. As it is placed deep inside the ear, Oticon IIC captures sound in the same manner that your ears were designed to do. Based on Oticon’s premium hearing aid technology, Inium Sense, and available at three technology levels to suit all budgets, it gently preserves and amplifies sounds so that what you hear is always clear – and you will be able to participate confidently in all situations.

First Ever Wireless Invisible Hearing Aid

Up until now, the ultra-compact IIC has come at the price of reduced features and limited use cases. Not anymore. Oticon's new IIC instruments with wireless technology make it possible to combine all the benefits of invisible hearing aids, outstanding listening performance, wireless access to communication and entertainment and the optional remote control.

Oticon ConnectLine

Oticon’s intelligent wireless connectivity solution offers a direct connection to devices such as telephones, TVs or remote microphones, playing these sounds directly through your hearing aids so you can hear them as clearly as possible without upsetting or interfering with the listening of others around you. In this way, you can adjust whatever you are listening to and enjoy sounds as you like, directly into your ears through the hearing aids. The wireless system helps you choose the input with minimal steps or adjustments and makes the process as easy as possible. Answering your mobile phone is as easy as pressing one button. In addition, some listening conditions end up easier than for listeners with normal hearing. For example, you can easily listen to the telephone in both ears, something conventional telephones do not offer you.

Starkey Sound Lens

SoundLens are our Starkey's most advanced invisible hearing aids. Custom-fit to your exact needs and unique ear canal shape, they rest comfortably deep in your ear, so only you know they’re there. Even though they are tiny, SoundLens come loaded with leading technology. They were the first custom-fit Invisible-in-the-Canal (IIC) hearing aids ever made. The SoundLens is a deep fit hearing aid and it has the same pros and cons as the rest of the pack here.