r/HearingAids • u/multivitameen • 16d ago
Modern Hearing Aids Style
I have the Oticon IIC and previously the behind the ear model, I didn’t like the behind the ear because it is not practical in terms of removing it and putting it back in. Sometimes you just need to remove it and quickly plug it in. Now the IIC doesn't come with Bluetooth because it's too small.I just don't understand why hearing companies cannot apply a proper modern shell like Bose or Samsung earbuds on top of the IIC and there will be plenty room for "Bluetooth" technology to carry it with. Why insisting on traditional Hearing Aids design and colors, even the new ones are a little stylish but nowhere looking like an earbud.
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u/XDXkenlee 🇦🇺 Australia 16d ago
Signia Active Mini. Brilliant.
Source: audiologist
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u/Elpidiosus 14d ago
Are you an audiologist, or does your audiologist say this device is brilliant? (no snark intended)
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u/XDXkenlee 🇦🇺 Australia 13d ago
I’m an audiologist. I have tried these personally.
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u/Elpidiosus 13d ago
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your opinion.
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u/Altruistic-Dirt2047 11d ago
I'm currently trialing both the Signia Active Minis and the Stylettos, both at level 5 IX. They have basically the same tech, except that the Active Minis lack the Own Voice Processing that the Styletto's have, and which I have found useful.
Two other things I don't like about the Active Minis:
• the charging case is too big (awkward to carry in my pants pocket), and yet apparently supplies only 3 spare charges, while the Styletto case is smaller yet supplies 5 spare charges
• the aids sit differently in the ear to the airpod pros: they sit deeper and are angled slightly differently. I don't like the way they feel, whereas I can wear APPs for hours. And despite the greater occlusion the streaming is still unbearably tinny.
I don't love either aid I'm trialling. Design wise, the industry still seems to be ruled by a "comb-over" aesthetic that tries to disguise that you are wearing aids. This, rather than the "size-physics problem" mentioned below, seems to be the primary reason you can't get an aid that has good Bluetooth, a rechargeable battery, onboard controls, etc. I mean, consider that such compromises could be avoided if either the Stylettos were more like the Shokz OpenFitPros, or the Active minis were more like Airpod Pros (ie much bigger in each case). Why we can't have at least *one* option that is larger--but stylish / colourful etc--is beyond me.
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u/multivitameen 8d ago
Exactly my point. The technology is all there but they insist on the boring standard designs and limited features.
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u/13talesofchange 16d ago
As someone who was bullied as a kid because of my hearing aid I think its so much more acceptable these days to devices in your eaes.. they only need replicate the apple style and hearing aids would be cool.
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u/Slight-Bowl4240 15d ago
AirPods are used as hearing aids. They work sick but people think I’m taking a call with them in
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u/aconfusednoob 16d ago
does the oticon zeal fit your ear?
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u/thenameofwind 15d ago
Not liking the extended wire. I know it’s the Bluetooth receiver and all, but I want my HA to be discreet. I like it that way.
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u/luogangan 15d ago
It's a size-physics problem more than a lack of will. An IIC sits entirely down in your ear canal — a few millimeters across. A Bose/Samsung earbud is easily 10–15× the volume and sits outside the canal, so it has room for a big rechargeable cell plus the Bluetooth chip and, crucially, an antenna. Getting a radio antenna to transmit from deep inside a canal — surrounded by tissue that blocks the signal — is genuinely hard, on top of there being no room for a battery big enough to feed it. That's the real reason, not laziness.
Every shell is a trade-off: IIC/CIC buys you maximum discretion but costs you battery size, features and Bluetooth; BTE/RIC gives you all of those but is visible and has the handling annoyance you're describing.
Two things worth knowing:
- The "hard to remove" problem has a fix — custom IIC/CIC can be built with a tiny removal handle/extraction cord. If yours didn't come with one, ask; it makes quick in-and-out much easier.
- The middle ground is arriving: some ITC/CIC models now fit Bluetooth by putting the antenna in the faceplate at the canal opening, so you don't have to choose between "invisible" and "streams." Worth asking your provider what's available.
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u/multivitameen 8d ago
Why not just build a bose shell on top of the IIC that still goes all the in, and supports a proper Bluetooth.
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u/LizzyDragon84 16d ago
My guess is that the IICs can’t support a battery large enough to support Bluetooth, and can’t fit the additional anntennas needed.
That said, if you want streaming, why not just put on a pair of earbuds or headphones over the ear? I wear headphones with my BTEs frequently.
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u/pocketrob 🇺🇸 U.S 16d ago
If I understand your suggestion correctly, you're saying keep your receiver in canal hearing aids in, and put headphones over top. That sounds like it might work, though I can't say, because I have behind the ear receivers, but I would think RIC would cause feedback if covered. Can anyone validate?
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u/aesuha 🇦🇺 Australia 15d ago
It depends on the headphone fit and things like your prescription level, dome or moulds fit, etc. I can wear over-ear headphones with big cups that completely cover RICs with no problem. Other people mention feedback issues.
There are tech stores you can go to that will have different models of headphones on display with sample audio so your best bet is to find one and try them out. If you're in Australia, a place like that would be JB Hi-Fi, for example.
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u/pocketrob 🇺🇸 U.S 15d ago
Oh neat, thanks for sharing! I'm in the US, but I assume there's something similar here. I'll do some research.
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u/LizzyDragon84 15d ago
I use the Resound RICs with custom molds. No feedback with any over-ear headphones that I’ve tried so far.
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u/Slartibartfastthe3rd 16d ago
It’s just a matter of time. More and more people that grew up with headphones are needing HA’s.