We know from our customers at both Hear More 4 Less and our Dr George Hearing Centre clinic, that small ear canals are often challenging in finding the most appropriate hearing aids that would fit comfortably while providing the best outcome possible. It is even more challenging in the case of men with short hair where vanity is very important.
This a regular concern we hear from our customers so in this blog, I want to address the options available to you if you are in this positions
What Hearing Aid Options Are Available For People Small Ear Canals
Small or narrow ear canals limit the number of options available to the user due to the lack of adequate ‘space’ to comfortably accommodate hearing aids.
In the past few years with the introduction of Receive-in-the-ear (RIC) devices our ability to help people with small or narrow ear canals has improved dramatically. RIC hearing aids are small hearing aids that sit over and behind the ear with a thin wire connection to a tiny speaker placed inside the ear canal. In other words, RIC hearing aids are generally smaller as the speaker is no longer situated in the hearing aids body but rather in the ear canal.
As time went by, the size of the speakers has gotten smaller while their power has increased, able to be fitted even in extremely narrow ear canals and more severe hearing losses. In addition, with the introduction of mobile phone connectivity and the use of hearing aid applications, the users are now able to control various parameter i.e volume, program change, etc., resulting a customized experience with the best outcome possible in even challenging noisy environments.
All major hearing aid manufacturers offer RIC hearing aids that typically come available in either rechargeable or battery-operated form in various technology levels.
RIC Hearing Aid Alternatives For Small Ear Canals
In addition to RIC devices, we are now able to fit completely-in-the-canal (CIC) or even invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) devices to smaller and narrower ear canals than we did in the past. Hearing aid components like microphones, speakers, amplifiers have gotten smaller over the years resulting to smaller hearing aids.
3D printing of hearing aids is now widely used, resulting to more accurate and more comfortable fits while reducing the size of the hearing aids. Moreover, some manufacturers are now offering very small, in-the-ear, ready-to-fit solutions such as the Signia silk. In this case the hearing aids are tiny, sit completely in the canal and are virtually invisible even in the smallest ear canals.
Every person is different with their own unique needs. Our expert team of professions can help you determine what is best for you. Book a hearing aid consultation with our team today to get expert advice
