Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids

A simple, discreet, unobtrusive hearing aid

Your hearing aid choice depends on several factors. These could be:

• your degree of hearing loss
• the recommendations of your audiologist and hearing care specialist
• your lifestyle needs and personal preferences.

With developments in technology, there is a growing desire amongst people for hearing aids that are barely detectable to the world around them.

The completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid is one of these solutions. A custom-built, discreet hearing device for your unique ear anatomy, designed to sit completely in the ear canal. It is suitable for those with mild to moderately severe hearing loss. This discreet hearing aid is not only small but designed to improve your hearing capabilities and daily life.

How do CIC hearing aids work?

All hearing aids use the same essential components. These include:

• one or two microphones (the CIC only has one microphone)
• an amplifier (makes sound louder)
• a microchip (also known as a signal processor)
• a battery
• a loudspeaker.

The completely-in-the-canal hearing aid allows most of your ear to continue performing its natural function. The outer ear funnels sound down towards your ear canal, where your CIC hearing aid processes and amplifies these sounds, based on your hearing loss and the environment you are in. And because of the proximity between the CIC and the eardrum, it allows for a more natural hearing experience.

The benefits of a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid

A comfortable fit

This lightweight, all-in-one hearing device is easy to insert and easy to handle. Its fixed position within your ear canal prevents movement of the device within your ear. Furthermore, the CIC is also fitted with a removal line to help insertion and removal from your ear comfortably.

An almost invisible hearing aid made for you

The CIC strives to achieve maximum comfort and sound quality for the user, with an assortment of features to improve sound quality and personalization. With the CIC hearing aid, only the tiny removal line is visible outside the ear canal. The CIC is discreet and virtually undetectable, making it harder for the outside world to know you are wearing a hearing aid.

Natural hearing experience

The completely-in-the-canal hearing aid allows your ear to continue performing its natural function. Sound is collected naturally from the outer ear and passes towards the microphone in the ear canal. Its placement and proximity to the eardrum allows the CIC hearing aid to interact more directly. The user benefits from improved localization detection, i.e. knowing where sounds are coming from, and a natural hearing experience.

Get to know your options

Finding the right type and style of hearing aid for you can depend on many factors. It could be the degree of hearing loss you have, your lifestyle preferences, or cosmetic concerns. Learn more about Philips HearLink hearing aids.