I don't want people to know I wear a hearing aid because I'm embarrassed
I want a hearing aid that is as discreet as possible.
It may be a Japanese thing, but there are a lot of people who feel this way.
If you are one of these people, I would like you to try an occluded-ear simulator. An occluded-ear simulator is a very small hearing aid that fits completely inside the ear canal.
Unlike an occluded-ear simulator, the hearing aid does not stick out of the ear and is therefore unobtrusive. This makes them ideal for people who do not want people to know they are using a hearing aid. Let's take a closer look at what an occluded-ear simulator is all about.
Characteristics of an occluded-ear simulator
As the name implies, an occluded-ear simulator is a small hearing aid that fits snugly inside the ear. The most common type of hearing aid is the occluded-ear simulator, which you may think of as something that is hooked into your ear.
Types of occluded-ear simulator
There are three types of occluded-ear simulator
- CIC
- ITC
- ITE
What are the different types?
CIC
CIC (Completely In Canal) is a type of hearing aid that fits completely inside the ear canal. Completely in canal" means "completely inside the canal. This is the smallest of the occluded-ear simulator types and is the choice of people who do not want people to know they are wearing a hearing aid. However, it is difficult to make the sound louder, so it is only effective for people with mild hearing loss.
ITC (In The Canal)
ITC (In The Canal) is called a canal and protrudes slightly out of the ear canal. CIC was completely inside the ear, but this one is called In the canal, which means that it is inside the canal, though not completely. Compared to the CIC, the area visible from the outside is larger, but I think it is still discreet enough. The feedback is now well controlled, so it is expected to be effective even for moderate to severe hearing loss.
ITE
ITE (In The Ear) is a full-size, in-the-ear type. While CIC and ITC were canal = ear canal, Ear = ear. In other words, it means inside the ear, not inside the ear canal. Therefore, the size of the hearing aid is noticeably larger than the other two. In exchange, it is possible to add a full range of features, such as adjustable volume and directionality to make it easier to understand the direction of sound. ITEs are mainly used for severe and profound hearing loss and above.
Advantages of occluded-ear simulator
What are the advantages of an occluded-ear simulator?
The main advantages are
- Discreet
- Sweat-resistant
Let's take a closer look.
Discreet when using a hearing aid
Occluded-ear simulator are very inconspicuous because they are fitted in the ear canal. Of course, the CIC is the least conspicuous, and as the size of the ITC and ITE increases, it becomes more conspicuous. However, they are still much less noticeable than ear-mounted hearing aids.
Sweat-resistant and suitable for exercise
Moisture is the biggest enemy of hearing aids. So, getting wet in the rain or sweating is a natural enemy. With an occluded-ear simulator, the main body is inside the ear, so there is less risk of getting wet from rain or sweat. Therefore, if you are an athlete, or exercise regularly, an occluded-ear simulator is the right choice for you. If you are an athlete, for example, you are less likely to break an occluded-ear simulator than you are an occluded-ear simulator.
Disadvantages of occluded-ear simulator
What are the disadvantages of in-the-ear hearing aids?
- For people with mild hearing loss
- Tendency to feedback
Let's look at each in detail.
For people with relatively mild to moderate hearing loss
The small, inconspicuous ear canal type hearing aid can only be used for people with relatively mild hearing loss. Because the ear canal type is designed to be small enough to fit snugly inside the ear canal, it is not possible to make the sound louder. Therefore, it is inevitably not suitable for people with severe hearing loss. In other words, people with severe hearing loss will not benefit from the occluded-ear simulator.
They will not want to wear them because they are prone to feedback
Howling is the high-pitched "squeal" that occurs during karaoke. which occurs at karaoke and other events. Howling is caused by an endless loop of amplified sound being picked up and amplified again by the microphone. Because of the small size of earphones, the distance between the speaker and the microphone is close, so it is easy to pick up the sound. Howling is very annoying, isn't it? So, if you are prone to feedback, that means you don't like your hearing aid! If you make the sound too loud, it will also cause feedback. If you make the sound too loud, feedback is more likely to occur. Therefore, if the emphasis is on discreetness and people with moderate to severe hearing loss are forced to try to use a hearing aid, they may find that they can't use it because of feedback.
Who is suited for an occluded-ear simulator?
Occluded-ear simulator is recommended for people who want to use their hearing aids discreetly. The least conspicuous CIC is only effective for mild hearing loss and may not improve hearing as much as an occluded-ear simulator. Also, people who exercise are recommended to use the occluded-ear simulator, as hearing aids are sensitive to perspiration. Sometimes we see elderly people with hearing aids that are inconspicuous and do not match their hearing at all, and they keep howling. It is important to make the hearing aid inconspicuous, but since you are buying a hearing aid, the first priority should be to be able to hear. To that end, I would like them to consider increasing the size of their hearing aids, from CIC to ITC, or even ITE if ITC is not an option. Since wearing a mask is a basic requirement these days, I think there are some people for whom an occluded-ear simulator will get caught in the mask.
Such people should also consider the occluded-ear simulator.
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