Hearing aids help millions of people, but many resist them because they think wearing one carries a social stigma. Hearing aids also have serious lifestyle limitations: the hearing impaired can't wear them while showering or swimming, and most models are hard to wear while sleeping. Now, a new kind of hearing aid that aims to overcome these problems is in clinical trials. It's invisible and waterproof because all of its circuitry--including its battery and microphone--is in the user's head.Only about 50% of patients with hearing loss are eligible to use the device, the company says. That’s because many people have ear canals too small or not straight enough to fit it, or because they have medical limitations, such as Type I diabetes or a compromised immune system, that could put them at high risk for infection. It’s powerful enough only for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
If you have hearing loss or are hard of hearing, you’re no longer limited by BTE (behind-the-ear) or even ITE (in-the-ear) hearing aids. Your audiologist, hearing professional, or hearing center can help determine if the invisible hearing aid will help you hear better. Find out more about world’s first 100% custom, invisible, digital, and fully programmable hearing aid.
