Smallest Hearing Aid: What to Know and How to Buy

So, you’ve decided to get hearing aids. Congratulations! Whether you took an online hearing test or visited a local hearing care professional for an evaluation, you’re making a smart choice. You understand that addressing hearing loss can be extremely beneficial to your long-term health, quality of life and personal relationships.

But if you’re like most people, you may be worried about the fit and appearance of the hearing aids you choose. You may wonder which type of hearing aid is the smallest, or which style is the most comfortable for you.

Read ahead for answers to these questions and more.

What Is the Smallest Hearing Aid?

Some of the smallest hearing aids are known as CIC hearing aids. CIC stands for “completely-in-canal.” As the name suggests, these devices fit entirely inside of the ear canal. They have no external wires or tubes, and nothing that sits behind your ear. As a result, CIC hearing aids are some of the most “invisible” devices available today.

The Best Small Hearing Aids

CIC hearing aids aren’t the only small hearing aids to consider. Thanks to big advancements in technology, RIE hearing aids have also significantly decreased in size in recent years. RIE stands for “receiver-in-ear,” which means these hearing aids sit discreetly behind the ear lobe with a thin wire that leads to a receiver inside the ear canal. New RIE styles such as the microRIE offer many of the advantages of a tiny hearing aid with the great performance and rechargeability offered by larger RIE models.

Shopping for Small Hearing Aids

CIC, RIE— which style of hearing aid is the right one for you?

Ultimately, this is not something you can answer by reading articles or watching hearing aid reviews. Your type of hearing loss may be different than others and require a hearing aid solution that’s tailored to your unique needs. You likely have your own preferences in terms of fit and functionality, and your choice of hearing aid should reflect that.

Your local hearing care professional can help you to weigh your options and decide whether a small hearing aid is the right choice for you. Many locations offer free hearing aid demos that can be used to help you feel comfortable with your chosen hearing aid style. Your hearing care professional will also be there after your purchase for ongoing support, fittings and adjustments as needed.