In-the-Ear & Custom Hearing Aids
Built from a mold of your own ear and worn inside it, custom hearing aids are the most discreet option available.
What are custom in-the-ear hearing aids?
Custom hearing aids are built from an impression of your ear and worn inside it. ITE fills the outer bowl, ITC sits partly in the canal, and CIC sits completely inside and is close to invisible. The smaller the device, the more discreet it is and the less power, battery life and ease of handling it offers.
Most people choose a custom device because they want a hearing aid that is hard to see. A hearing aid you are happy to wear every day is a good choice.
Jordan will go over the pros and cons with you before taking the impression, since a custom shell is made for your ear and cannot be changed to another style later.
Pros and cons of custom hearing aids
Strengths
- Discreet to nearly invisibleCIC devices sit inside the canal and are very hard to spot.
- Nothing behind the earNo conflict with glasses, masks, or hats.
- Natural microphone positionThe outer ear does some of the work of locating sound, which a behind-the-ear mic bypasses.
- Fitted to your ear exactlyBuilt from your impression, so retention is excellent once it is right.
Trade-offs
- Less power, so generally not the choice for severe or profound loss
- Shorter battery life, and smaller batteries that are harder to handle
- More wax exposure, so more frequent filter changes and cleaning
- Occlusion, meaning your own voice can sound boomy without good venting and own-voice processing
- The shell is made to your ear and cannot be swapped for another style
Other discreet options
Two options are worth asking about. Ready-to-wear in-canal devices such as the Signia Silk line give you a near-invisible fit with no impression and no wait. A modern RIC also sits close behind the ear on a very thin wire, and most people do not notice it.
Custom hearing aid questions
They describe how much of the ear the device fills. ITE (in-the-ear) fills the outer bowl. ITC (in-the-canal) is smaller and sits partly in the canal. CIC (completely-in-canal) sits fully inside and is close to invisible. Smaller means more discreet and also means less power, less battery and harder handling.
CIC devices are close to it. Most people will not see them unless they look directly into your ear. For many people, that makes all the difference.
For true custom devices, yes. We take a mold of your ear and the shell is built to it. Some ready-to-wear in-canal devices, such as the Signia Silk line, skip that step and can be fitted the same day.
Because the device blocks the canal, your own voice resonates rather than escaping. It is called occlusion and it is the most common complaint with custom styles. Venting the shell helps, and modern own-voice processing helps a great deal more. Let us know at your fitting if you notice it.
Yes, they sit where the wax is. Wax filters need changing more often and professional cleaning matters more. Both are included in the care plans.
Schedule your visit with Jordan
Call (956) 576-3593 or send a request and we will get back to you the same business day. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.