Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are the smallest of all the hearing aid options. They are designed for people with mild to moderately-severe cases of hearing loss and are different than other options because they are custom fitted to the inside of your ear canal. CIC hearing aids offer several pros for the wearer, as well as a couple of cons that you should be aware of before getting one.

Advantages – This type of hearing aid is small and comfortable, which provides both cosmetic and listening benefits to the wearer.Due to the lack of bulk, these devices work automatically without the need for controllers and other people may not ever notice that you’re wearing a CIC unless they peer directly into your ear canal.They may be more comfortable to wear due to their custom fitting. You can wear some CIC brands around the clock for up to several months at a time, so there is no need to insert and remove it every morning and night. Hearing aid models that must be removed daily have a convenient pull-out string that lies inconspicuously outside the ear. It generally doesn’t get in the way of the telephone receiver and, because it is housed inside your ear canal, your outer ear is able to keep out wind noise. Additionally, the natural anatomy of the ear helps guide sound to the instrument, which improves the directionality of the sound.

Disadvantages – Because the completely-in-canal hearing aids are small, they are generally less powerful and go through batteries faster than larger ones. They are generally the more expensive option because they are custom fitted to the wearer’s ear. You will also be limited to omnidirectional sound, meaning you will experience all sound as if it’s right in front of you. Moreover, CICs are not powerful enough for people with major hearing loss.