These are a style of hearing aid known as "Completely-In-Canal" hearing aids or "CICs".
Are CICs the best and most advanced type of hearing aid ?
The CIC is simply a "shell style". Within that shell may be a very advanced digital circuit or it may house a very primitive linear analog circuit. The shell style alone does not guarantee a high quality circuit inside. Electro-acoustic measurements can be made by an Audiologist with specialized equipment to identify the type of circuit.
So, what are the advantages of these small CIC hearing aids ?
CICs offer obvious cosmetic advantages. They are custom molded to fit in the ear canal with only a faceplate visible at the entrance to the ear canal. There can be some functional and acoustic advantages as well. The user retains more of the natural amplification provided by their unique ear shape. Telephone use can be simplified due to the depth of the aid in the ear canal. The ability to locate the source of sounds may be improved in some cases.
What are the disadvantages of CIC hearing aids?
CICs are not appropriate or preferable for everyone. Patients must have adequate canal size and shape to accommodate the shell comfortably. CICs require more maintenance and cleaning than some other styles. Batteries are smaller and battery life is reduced in CICs. Also, there is a limit as to the severity of the hearing loss that can be helped by CICs. CICs are more expensive than an identical circuit placed in a larger shell style.
How do I know if CIC are appropriate for my hearing loss ?
Generally, CICs can be considered
for mild to moderate
hearing losses in individuals with no recent history of ear drainage or
ear disease, and with adequate ear canal size and shape. A full
audiological
evaluation is necessary in order to rule out any conditions that would
prevent successful hearing aid use and to insure that you are a
candidate
for hearing aid use. CICs are not the right hearing solution for all
people,
but for some it is the only acceptable solution.
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Yes, if your
child has a history which includes
certain medical conditions or if you have
any of the following concerns:
Babies...
- your baby does not startle or jump to
loud sounds
- your baby does not stop sucking or
crying when there
is a new sound
- your three-month-old baby does not coo
at times
- your nine-month-old does not turn toward
you when called
from behind or make babbling sounds,
such as "baba"
- your one-year-old does not babble using
a variety of
consonant sounds (g,m,n,b,d)
- your eighteen-month-old does not use
single words to
express his or her wants
- your two-year-old does not repeat words
and does not
use short phrases when talking
- your child has had many ear infections
- your child uses gestures to communicate
Children...
- your four-year-old's speech is difficult
for most people
to understand
- your child often asks for things to be
repeated
- your child seems to watch your face
closely when you
talk
- your child seems inattentive at home or
school
- your child does not communicate as well
as other children
the same age
- your child often responds to a question
with an unrelated
answer
- your child prefers the TV or radio
louder than others
in your family
- your child has had many ear infections
* Hearing loss affects more American families than any other health condition.
* Almost 10% of the population copes with hearing loss. Hearing Loss is not limited to the elderly.
* 65% of those with hearing loss are below age 65 with the greatest number being 35-54.
* By the year 2050, it is expected that the number of people with hearing loss will increase by 102 %.
* A dependency on others in difficult listening situations can have a negative effect on self- confidence and self-esteem and interfere with relationships.
* Communication difficulties may be perceived as a lack of interest, low intelligence or personality problems.
A study of 6,166 children conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that 15% of children in this age group have at least a slight hearing loss in one or both ears.
Audiometric testing was completed from .5 kHz to 8 kHz and hearing loss was defined as a pure tone average of 16 dB Hl or greater. Most cases of hearing loss were in one ear only and in the slight hearing loss range of 16-25 dB HL. Because even minimal levels of hearing loss can affect academic performance and the development of communication skills, the authors recommended conducting hearing screenings throughout the school years.