Stigma is Hearing loss is subject to stigma. Whether we’re talking about mental health or wearing cargo pants, the world would benefit from less social stigma. When it comes to hearing aids, these often bulky devices age the wearer faster than you can remember gray hairs or deep Jefferson Airplane gashes. Yet, despite often being associated with older adults, more than 9 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 59 have some degree of hearing loss. Yet, most of these people don’t even consider hearing aids because of this stigma, in addition to other factors like high costs and a difficult to navigate market.
But invisible hearing aids, as the name suggests, are less visible to others when you wear them. Completely In-the-Ear (CIC) hearing aids are the most “invisible” hearing aids, but they are not available commercially and must be fitted by a professional audiologist. In this roundup, we’ll introduce the best in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, also known as in-the-ear (ITC) hearing aids. Because of their small size, they often have fewer technical features than larger, less noticeable behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, but they can treat mild to moderate hearing loss and are often very effective.
To conduct my research, I worked with Ruth Reisman, a board-certified audiologist who recommended devices based on analysis conducted in a scientific lab (the real thing) and ensured that these hearing aids met performance standards set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). She also conducted hands-on testing on over 20 products to evaluate quality and comfort in a variety of settings to ensure an accurate reflection of the user experience. For more information about our process, see our General Hearing Aid Guide.
Update August 2024: Added Sony CRE-C20.
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