As hearing professionals, we frequently notice people wearing aids in public situations, such as at sporting events or the airport. Mostly, because it’s our profession, but also because hearing aids of the past have been so big and noticeable, and we put great emphasis on the word PAST.
With today’s latest hearing aids, many new options are available that are invisible* to the eye when worn. The exact level of invisibility depends on the size of your ear canal, but, for many, these invisible-in-canal size hearing aids will help those with hearing losses receive the benefits of wearing a hearing aid without having it known to others, even their closest colleagues or friends. One of the most significant of these new invisible-in-canal products is called SoundLens, made by Starkey.
The SoundLens is custom made to fit exactly to the contours of your ear canal, so comfortable that many people report forgetting they have it in. While the size has become smaller, the technology continues to get more advanced and powerful. The SoundLens is a digital and fully programmable hearing aid that is designed to virtually eliminate feedback and reduce background noise in noisy environments. Not only may you not feel like you are wearing a hearing aid, but you won’t have to remember to change settings or programs when switching from quiet to noisy environments. Candidacy for this product does depend on one’s degree of hearing loss. Significant losses may need more powerful solutions. That said, many hearing aid options are available in slightly bigger sizes that are still hard to notice when worn in the ear and equally effortless to use.
For us, days of being able to spot hearing aid wearers in public may be coming to an end, which is fantastic. If you or a loved feel that they could benefit from wearing a hearing aid but don’t want to have to feel like you are wearing a hearing aid, the invisible-in-canal solutions may be right for you. Simply visit the Contact Us page of our website to request more information; we will be in touch to answer all of your questions or schedule a free appointment.
*Individual results may vary. Invisibility may vary based on your ear’s anatomy.