With the launch of its new iMini hearing aid family this month, Siemens Hearing Instruments will take the plunge into the hot market for invisible in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids.
While pre-announcement details are sketchy, enough information has trickled out to confirm that the tiny Siemens iMini hearing aids will sit so deep within the ear canal as to be virtually invisible while still offering premium 16-channel programming and Siemens BestSound sound processing features, including advanced feedback cancellation and a SpeechFocus algorithm that makes it easier to understand speech in noisy environments. The company has staged a limited rollout of the brand in several locations including France and Ireland and is promising a global rollout—with a snazzy design and choice of multiple colors—on February 21.
The Siemens foray into invisible hearing aids follows the success of Starkey Laboratories, which last year entered the market with a device marketed by multiple Starkey business units—most notably the flagship Starkey SoundLens IIC hearing aid—that sits within the “second bend” of the ear canal. ReSound also recently introduced an invisible hearing aid with innovative remote microphone that extends via an invisible wire from the processing unit deep in the ear canal to a location hidden under the outer ear’s cymba concha.
Siemens’ entry into the invisible hearing aid market indicates there is strong demand for cosmetically appealing solutions that eliminate the stigma of wearing hearing aids. Other entries in the segment include Lyric Hearing, which offers an extended-wear hearing aid that is replaced by your audiologists every few months.
Invisible Hearing Aid says
I like the direction that hearing aids are going in. I’ve been using the Lyric hearing aids for some time now. Initially selected because they were discreet, but I love the sound and the ease of use.
Hearing Specialist says
I used to carry Siemens hearing aids and am very interested to hear that they are plunging into the in the ear hearing aid market. I know there are a lot of people that are skeptical of the in the ear hearing aids, but, as you stated, I think they are a great option for those that are self conscious about the fact that they wear hearing aids. With the focus these days of staying young looking, there’s no doubt that having “invisible” hearing aids will be a big draw for many people. I’ll be interested to see how things actually turn out. Thanks for the info.
Wouter Haak says
Excellent development by Siemens!
I personally miss the ExSilent Q, Qleaf and Qleaf Pro hearing aids in the history featured above. The key here is that all manufacturers are moving towards instant fit devices:
– CIC attractive cosmetics and natural sound quality are the end-user benefits
– Instant fit and a broader client base are the benefits for audiologists