Custom hearing aids have gained quite a bit of popularity nowadays. As masks have become a part of our daily lives, more and more patients are looking for custom in-the-ear options for hearing aids. Sometimes these custom devices are a big bigger and bulkier than some patients expect, but luckily there is another option! Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids are also available, though not often discussed with many patients. Depending on your lifestyle and hearing loss, Starkey’s IIC hearing aid, the Picasso, may just be the right choice for you!
“Invisible” is a very accurate descriptor of these hearing aids! Sitting deeper in the ear canal, these hearing aids are not at all noticeable by friends and family. They still provide a natural sound quality, to help you understand every day conversations, all while avoiding the unwanted attention from “are those hearing aids?” These custom hearing aids fit perfectly to your ear. Your audiologist will take an impression, or a mold, of your ear canal so that the hearing aid can be built, specifically for you!
With such a small size comes a few disadvantages. One being Bluetooth compatibility…or should I say, lack thereof. When working with such a small amount of space to fit everything in, Bluetooth compatibility did not make the cut, nor did rechargeability. Luckily, patients interested in IIC hearing aids are not often worried about connecting their hearing aids to their phone, or about changing batteries. These hearing aids also require a good bit of dexterity, for proper insertion and removal, as well as changing batteries.
If you are interested in learning more about the Starkey Picasso IIC, please contact Gardner Audiology at 1-800-277-1182 or email info@gardneraudiology.com to schedule an appointment.
