2024-03-04 06:49:34
According to World Health Organization430 million people suffer from hearing loss, and by 2050 this number might rise to 700 million.
In Russia this problem affects approximately 9 million people, in the USA – 48 million.
If left untreated, hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person’s health and quality of life. Recent research shows that hearing loss can lead to depression, cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.
Many people with hearing loss use hearing aids. Typically, these are visible devices that fit into the ear and protrude slightly. But there are also more technological solutions, which will be discussed in this article.
The hearing aid can be completely invisible
Hearing aids are divided into several types, which differ in size and capabilities:
▪️ IIC – invisible in-canal hearing aid
▪️ CIC – deep in-canal hearing aid
▪️ ITC — in-canal hearing aids
▪️ ITE – in-ear hearing aids
▪️ BTE —behind-the-ear hearing aids with an insert
Class IIC and CIC devices are the least noticeable in the ear. Moreover, while CIC can still be seen upon closer examination, IIC is not noticeable at all.
IIC hearing aids are placed deep in the ears.
IIC and CIC hearing aids are custom-made and designed to fit your specific ear canal. Among them we can highlight Phonak Virto P Titanium and GN ReSound Custom.
CICs are slightly larger and more noticeable than IIC hearing aids. However, they are both much smaller than traditional hearing aids.
The CIC is placed in the ear canal and the IIC is placed on the second curve inside the ear.
How CIC and IIC hearing aids work
Besides the battery, the CIC and IIC models have four main components:
▪️ Microphone, which picks up sound from the environment, converts it into electrical signals, and then sends these signals to an amplifier. Some models are equipped with multiple microphones.
▪️ Amplifier which amplifies sound waves and sends them to a digital signal processor.
▪️ Digital Signal Processor (DSP)which processes sound to improve its quality and speech clarity.
▪️ Dynamicwhich receives sound from the DSP and transmits it to the ear canal.
All these components fit into one housing. There are no additional elements that are connected to the hearing aids in any way.
Some devices also come with noise cancellation, a pedometer, and fall detection.
However, many CIC and IIC models do not have features found in conventional hearing aids. For example, replaceable batteries and Bluetooth support for playing music. But there are exceptions. For example, the Starkey Evolv AI CIC supports Bluetooth, and Eargo offers a CIC hearing aid with replaceable batteries.
How a hidden hearing aid is made
Before purchasing a hearing aid, you should have your hearing tested.
During the examination, the doctor must determine whether the patient needs to use a hearing aid at all. If necessary, the type of wearable device is then selected depending on the person’s hearing status and wishes.
If CIC or IIC hearing aids do not contradict the indications, then the patient can order them either from a clinic that is a partner of the manufacturers, or directly from the company’s office.
But to order a hearing aid, you will need to take impressions of both ears, which usually takes 5-10 minutes.
The impressions are then sent to a manufacturer to create custom hearing aids to fit the shape of each ear. Once the devices arrive at the clinic, the customer is notified and invited to receive and receive instruction.
You can also buy ready-made CIC and IIC hearing aids. They cost less than those made to order, although the price tags are still high. In Russia they cost an average of 100-300 thousand rubles, depending on the model.
Before purchasing them, you also need to consult with a specialist, otherwise there is a high chance of purchasing the wrong device.
Concealed hearing aids are not for everyone
CIC and IIC hearing aids are ideal for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. If a person has severe hearing loss, then such devices are definitely not suitable for him.
Doctors also warn that people with very small ear canals or unusually shaped ear canals may experience discomfort from wearing such devices.
Because CIC and IIC hearing aids are located deeper in the ear canal, they may need repairs more often than other types of hearing aids.
Prices for hearing aids reach up to 700 thousand rubles
The price of a CIC or IIC hearing aid varies depending on the country in which the person lives, the clinic where the order is placed, and other conditions of purchase.
Typically, CIC and IIC devices cost the same. On average $3000-76000 (300-700 thousand rubles).
The main factor influencing the price is the technology included in the hearing aid. The quality of speech recognition, the presence of noise reduction, size, autonomy – these are the main criteria on which the price depends.
If the user only needs one hearing aid, the price is usually halved.
Manufacturers are improving hearing aids every year.
Research shows that hearing aids significantly improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss by increasing communication, social functioning and self-esteem.
CIC and IIC hearing aids are the best solution at the moment for people with hearing loss.
The high price of such devices is largely due to the complexity of production, because fitting so much technology into a miniature case is not an easy task. But over time, these hearing aids will become cheaper and even more functional. [Forbes]
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iPhones.ru According to the World Health Organization, 430 million people suffer from hearing loss, and by 2050 their number might grow to 700 million. In Russia, this problem affects approximately 9 million people, in the United States – 48 million. If left untreated, hearing loss can have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. Recent research shows that…
Ilya Sidorov
@ilyasidorov
News editor and author of articles on iPhones.ru.
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