Hi! I am very new to this forum and HA’s in general, but I AM a pretty big adhd-type nerd that likes to go down rabbit holes and get stuck in analysis-paralysis.
I have read a ton on this forum and elsewhere, but still have some questions. I am quite frustrated that there’s no central resource on this topic (outside of this great website and some Youtubers).
I’m in my early 40s with early hearing loss, it’s somewhat lopsided. The tinnitus is getting worse too. I produce a lot of wax and my issue started after getting a first-time wax cleaning via water pressure at the local MD when one ear got fully plugged for weeks and wouldn’t let up. A TON of wax came out. I had a plugged feeling right after for weeks and finally went to an ENT that diagnosed me with the hearing loss. Now to be clear, I felt the loss and tinnitus prior to that, but felt the cleaning made it a lot worse. The ENT said that’s not possible…but online I’ve read wax-impact CAN cause permanent damage. Anyway, the ENT suggested I start using HA as early as possible, and that was 2 years ago. This year my hearing got a lot worse, so I am making the leap. I am in a major Canadian city.
Ofc their office was connected to a HearingLife center and they recommended the top tier Oticon Intents and Owns right away. After nearly fainting at the price, I started my reading journey, and here I am. I have a Costco membership and have an upcoming appointment with them. BUT, still have questions on CIC/IIC and etc!
I am at an okay place with money in my life, but I hate getting ripped off. So I’d like the best solution, even if that means the pricey Oticon Owns. However, if the tech is equivalent in a Costco brand, I’ll def take it! I am having trouble finding a finite list of the best CIC/IIC. So far I have the following with the little [research notes] after each:
Starkey Edge AI CIC 24 [Some techs saying Starkey has a bad rep for breaking too often. ReSounds is much better.]
Phonak Virto Paradise 10 P90
ReSound Nexia CIC 9 [Costco Jabras are the top end product from the same company as the Resounds. Features might be missing.] [[other threads now mention ReSound has a lot of quality/breaking issues as well…]]
[Per an audiologist; …Resound products are bad for anyone with any high frequency loss greater than 40dB.]
Oticon Own 1 [very few posts/reviews. Biggest issue is they use the Oticon More chips which were released in 2020 and 3 generations behind!]
Audicus Mini 2 CIC [The ‘2’ is brand new EOY 2024! OTC option. Per support: Made by Unitron, which is under Sonova. Chipset: Rexton (same as Signia, which is under Widex).
Are there any other good CIC to add to my list? I am considering CIC over IIC as they usually have a volume/program control button which I understand is very important for most people.
Regarding Oticon Own: They use Oticon More tech, which is just about 5yrs old. Any word on a new CIC release from them? I am liking the Oticon reviews and their tech, but would rather wait to purchase if they are just about to release a new CIC. The Own CIC has cross-communication capability and a button which is why I am considering over their IIC.
I actually contacted Audicus about their Mini. Their support team was so fast to get back and very helpful & friendly! The info I provided came directly from them, and they just released the Mini 2 this week with a new Rexton chipset. Any thoughts on this brand? They are obviously not fitted and all support/adjustments would need to be done online. Should a newbie go with OTCs at all??
I am also floating the idea of getting a cheaper OTC until Oticon releases a newer CIC.
I do not have access to my audiogram right now, but will ask for a copy from Costco once I go. I think it’s a typical ‘slope’ with high-freq loss (biggest issue is conversations) with higher loss in the right ear.
Sorry for long post, but input is appreciated. I am trying to jump on any Boxing Week sales.
Couple you’ve missed there:
Phonak Lyric, very very different to other hearing aids, subscription based model. Also analogue so a lot cleaner sound. Can stay in your ear for months at a time. It’s pricy but very convenient. have a look at them see what you think.
Another to consider is the yet to be released Phonak Infinio virto, which should be coming in a rechargeable model, so no batteries needed. Phonaks custom ear molds are typically very good as well and the Infinio platform is their latest and does sound very nice. You will likely have to wait for the summer for that one, but it could be very worth it and probably the most stable and up to date. Depends how fast you need them.
Oticon own are now 2 platforms behind so not sure I’d go with those. I’ve not used Starkey in the ear devices but I didn’t much care for the genesis sound.
I’m not sure I would have access to the Lyric, and I think it would be too pricey for me. I’m a little worried about the wax buildup as well. Right now my plan is to use eardrops to loosen the wax once or twice a week in between wears.
I’ve added the Phonak Infinio Virto to my watchlist.
I also emailed Oticon if they can advise if any new CIC/IIC are set to be released soon, maybe they will give a hint?
They might tell you but I doubt it, HA makers keep veeeeeery tight lipped on these things. Re Lyric and wax yes this could be a problem depending upon how much you produce. When I wore them, the wax came out around the lyric but it won’t be the same for everyone. Yes they are expensive. They have to be handmade apparently which is the downside. I think the Phonak could be quite fun.
I’ve had laser eye surgery, I need to wear sunglasses nearly all the time in the day, even in winter. Also, because I am new to hearing aids and I still go out a lot to socialize, I’d rather not have the BTE/RIC styles.
Anyway the audiologist said both the Oticon Intents and Owns were good for my level of loss. I don’t listen to music a lot so don’t really care about streaming, unless hearing the speakers from my phone would also be an issue for the odd video I watch on Twitter/IG.
Not entirely sure why anyone ‘needs’ to buy the 20-24 version of the Starkey IIC, when a significant number of directional features require two mics and binaural aid interaction, which doesn’t really happen in this form factor.
I and many others wear glasses with RICs. From my experience and what others have reported on the forum, nobody is going to pay any attention to your hearing aids. (I did have one exception to that-- another person with hearing aids seemed to find me more approachable in the gym because of my hearing aids) CIC/IIC give up several features and depending on your loss may create a problem with occlusion.
I think the general concern is that you haven’t added your audiogram. If your hearing is normal in the lows, which is common, there’s a reasonable chance that CICs will sound like crap to you because of occlusion.
I really like a CIC, and users for whom CICs work are typically very happy with them. BUT, you have to have the right sort of hearing loss for them to work well.
Appreciate all the feedback here, but I do see it going off topic. I have read a lot on IIC/CIC vs BTE and understand that there is a big tradeoff. I am taking notes on all the advice though (occlusion and such with CIC styles, wax issues, multi-mics, etc) and will discuss these topics with the audiologist at Costco next week. I can also get my audiogram at that time to upload here.
I have significant tinnitus as well, so that will add to the decisions.
But the main topic would be; what IIC/CIC technologies are the most up to date and best so far? What are the tradeoffs between them? What have I missed in my list?
I would go with Oticon Owns but I’m now turned off that it’s based on the More tech which was released in 2020. Their own spec sheet states the Polaris chip is 28nm based, which is pretty ancient vs what is possible, I would have expected they’d be using at least 14nm or below by now, considering these prices and the size restraints…
I like the signia CICs for their directional microphone, the Starkey CICs for their Bluetooth antenna, the oticon CICs for the unilateral sound strategy, and the phonak CICs for their titanium shell. CICs will often end up being a little bit older technology, but it largely doesn’t matter. You don’t benefit the same way from the features as you do with an RIC style hearing aid.
This is a nice little summary, thanks!
I am weighing what would be more important for a CIC; bluetooth connectivity (for adjusting programs via mobile mostly, not music) or more advanced sound processing/quality.
IE from your summary; Starkey Bluetooth vs Oticon’s ‘natural’ sound. The Oticon Own CIC only have a button for program/volume adjustment.
Hi there. I think the presence of advanced artificial intelligence can be the most important factor in choosing a CIC hearing aid. This might even outweigh the significance of the nanotechnology used in the hearing aid.
Most of them have a button option. Signia and Phonak certainly. I’d have to double check on the newest Starkey, but certainly they used to.
I’m not someone who believes that differences between manufacturer sound are that dramatic. More depends on the fit. And again, if your lows are good the signia silk might be that only way to avoid occlusion and therefore the only one that will approach “natural sound”. If your highs are poor and your ear is small, it can be hard to get sufficient high frequency gain with any CIC. Finding a good clinician is going to be a bigger factor than selecting your technology. Hearing aids aren’t like glasses; there’s more variability in the fitting.
