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Original poster

Hearing aid - invisible

43 replies

frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 16:24

Please can someone recommend the cheapest invisible hearing aid possible. I need it to be invisible. I know people will be well intentioned and tell me it doesn't matter if people can see it - but it does to me.

Thank you very much.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 06/03/2025 16:32

Several people o know have the standard silver NHS ones. They are very discreet. Can barely see them.

CarolNoE · 06/03/2025 16:41

Just had a hearing check at Boots. They only had on "in the ear" model. The other 7 were behind the ear. I don't know if it is to do with all the tech/functions, Bluetooth etc ongoing out of fashion.
My first nhs behind the ear aid had a plastic mould which sat in the ear. I hated it as felt like the perfect storm for an ear infection- just feel warm/hot, moist/damp, no fresh air, itchy. Much prefer the little silicone cup on a thin, clear wire, going into the behind the ear. Even though that isn't what you want to hear, excuse the pun! Good luck.

Pineapplesunshine · 06/03/2025 16:48

I’m afraid I’ve found that the in the ear ones aren’t generally cheap - and,
as I understand it from various audiologists, are not suitable for all types and levels of hearing loss.
What I would say is that the price varies a lot depending on where you are getting them from - even for the same model. Im looking at replacing mine and have found specsavers the cheapest for the version I want - phonak.
Good luck!

valder · 06/03/2025 16:49

I know you want an invisible hearing aid, and many do. They don't work for everyone though. Have you had a consult with an audiologist yet? They can advise the best one for your needs, which might be the invisible one, might not.

I hate to ask, but do you have any issues with having a hair style that would cover your ears somewhat? Is that the reason you want the invisible type?

I know I'm not you but I have one in each ear. The type that sits at the back of the ear with a thin (nearly invisible) wire into the ear canal. My life has been transformed with them (meningitis as a young adult caused hearing loss), so I wear them with pride. I'm 67 and you would think I'd say, uh oh sign of getting old! Nope not at all. I wear my hair in a french knot/clipped back and the things are fully visible but very very discreet. Many don't notice, most in fact until I tell them.

But I'm not helping you am I? Someone might come along with recommendations for the invisible type.

Original poster
frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 19:06

valder · 06/03/2025 16:49

I know you want an invisible hearing aid, and many do. They don't work for everyone though. Have you had a consult with an audiologist yet? They can advise the best one for your needs, which might be the invisible one, might not.

I hate to ask, but do you have any issues with having a hair style that would cover your ears somewhat? Is that the reason you want the invisible type?

I know I'm not you but I have one in each ear. The type that sits at the back of the ear with a thin (nearly invisible) wire into the ear canal. My life has been transformed with them (meningitis as a young adult caused hearing loss), so I wear them with pride. I'm 67 and you would think I'd say, uh oh sign of getting old! Nope not at all. I wear my hair in a french knot/clipped back and the things are fully visible but very very discreet. Many don't notice, most in fact until I tell them.

But I'm not helping you am I? Someone might come along with recommendations for the invisible type.

Thank you but I am significantly younger

OP posts:
valder · 06/03/2025 19:08

So it's vanity. OK that's fine. No need to imply that I chose over ear aids because I am older. The in ear ones were not suitable for my type of hearing loss.

Hercisback1 · 06/03/2025 19:10

I'm significantly younger than the 67yo posting, yet agree with everything they say.

welshweasel · 06/03/2025 19:22

My husband has in the ear ones - phonek. You can't see them.

LIZS · 06/03/2025 19:24

Hercisback1 · 06/03/2025 19:10

I'm significantly younger than the 67yo posting, yet agree with everything they say.

Me too. I have ha in both ears and the behind-ear piece is the same colour as my hair with clear wires. Noone notices until I show them.

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 19:29

I used to have Oticon and now have Widex. I can't remember the models but they are both in ear. I'm absolutely with you OP - I feel much less 'insignificant' when people can't see my disability.
The Widex are top of the range and cost £5K. They are marginally better than the Oticon. They have more bells and whistles (room settings, directional focus etc.) but having lived with them for a few years now I don't think the bells and whistles add anything.
There are some things that in ear aids can't do as there isn't room in the aid to fit the functions in.

Original poster
frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 20:08

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 19:29

I used to have Oticon and now have Widex. I can't remember the models but they are both in ear. I'm absolutely with you OP - I feel much less 'insignificant' when people can't see my disability.
The Widex are top of the range and cost £5K. They are marginally better than the Oticon. They have more bells and whistles (room settings, directional focus etc.) but having lived with them for a few years now I don't think the bells and whistles add anything.
There are some things that in ear aids can't do as there isn't room in the aid to fit the functions in.

Thank you this is really helpful

OP posts:
orangetriangle · 06/03/2025 20:18

I have them in both ears since I was 40 the NHS ones they are brown like my hair colour so hardly noticeable mine have a thin wire with tiny plug on the end it depends on your hearing lost some people have to have the complete mould that covers the entire inner ear.
The in ear ones are very expensive as are the batteries for them and not suitable for all
Wear your hair down if you are self conscious.
I have been wearing them since I was 40 needs must I dress very modern and my hair and make up is all done nicely I am now 56 at the end of the day there is nothing worse than not being able to hear
If I want to wear my hair up I do there are far worst things in the world than hearing aids!

purpleme12 · 06/03/2025 20:42

I've worn them since early 20s but just normal over ear ones through nhs

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 20:46

I wear my hair back from my ears. It suits my face better, it's more comfortable and it's pretty much essential for sport. So no - behind the ear aids just don't work for me.
I did wear behind the ear for many years and found the top of my ears were really uncomfortable by the end of the day. In ears are much more comfortable for me.

rrrrrreatt · 06/03/2025 21:06

I wearing hearing aids when my hearing fails between surgeries as my hearing loss can be fixed but only temporarily.

The cycle of surgeries, restored hearing, hearing loss when it starts to fail only started in my mid 20s and I HATED my hearing aids to begin with. I could only have over ear aids due to my type of hearing loss so I wore my hair down all the time and avoided situations where I’d have to tie it up.

I’m 35 now and, honestly, I don’t care anymore. Most people pay so little attention to the people around them that they don’t notice unless you say something. I couldn’t be more obvious about it at work (hair up, reminding people I lip read/need a hearing loop, etc) and everyone still acts shocked because they’ve unobservant or have forgotten.

If you can find a great in ear one, go for it, but if they’re not suitable it’s really not as bad as it feels like it will be at the beginning.

Original poster
frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 21:07

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 19:29

I used to have Oticon and now have Widex. I can't remember the models but they are both in ear. I'm absolutely with you OP - I feel much less 'insignificant' when people can't see my disability.
The Widex are top of the range and cost £5K. They are marginally better than the Oticon. They have more bells and whistles (room settings, directional focus etc.) but having lived with them for a few years now I don't think the bells and whistles add anything.
There are some things that in ear aids can't do as there isn't room in the aid to fit the functions in.

Can i ask are they entirely in your ear? Or do they have small piece behind? Can people see them at all?

OP posts:
ParsnipPuree · 06/03/2025 21:11

I used to wear hearing aids (now have cochlear implants). I loved the natural sound of Widex. They aren't cheap though. Unless things have changed, the small invisible ones are more for milder hearing losses. I don't blame you.. I would never have had ones that show. (Even my cochlear implant microphone is under my hair away from my ear).

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 21:12

They are entirely in my ear.
If someone is sideways on to me and can see directly into my ear then they would be able to see them.
I have CIC (completely-in-canal) aids. Just looked them up and they are Widex Moment.
The Oticon ones were even a little smaller.

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 21:13

I have moderate hearing loss.

Exactfare · 06/03/2025 21:14

I've worn NHS hearing aids for nearly 15 years in both ears (got them in my mid 20s so not age related hearing loss)

Most people do not notice, I have thin tubes and they are very discreet. Even when I've had very short hair, with longer hair you'd definitely not notice them unless looking specifically

Sometimes I point them out to explain why I haven't caught what has been said to me

I really don't understand why we treat hearing loss any different to someone wearing glasses 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ it's nothing to be ashamed of

purpleme12 · 06/03/2025 21:20

I'm not sure OP will want to hear or ready to believe but it's true that most people really don't notice. When I started wearing them (early 20s) I was sure people must see them and they just be obvious and wasn't sure about wearing them. After a fair bit of time I got used to it and wasn't bothered but more surprisingly people who I'd worked with for years (and I'd tie my hair back, no effort to hide them) would be so surprised when they learnt I wore them still! And I'd say this was most people as well. And I realised this was because people just don't look that closely (or at least not closely at your ears!)

Quite amazing the amount of people who don't notice though!

Anyway I know you'll probably go for in the ear but just sharing!

meganna · 06/03/2025 21:25

Have you been for a consultation? It unfortunately isn't as easy as just picking the one you like the look of, there are much more complex things for an audiologist to weigh up when recommending the correct hearing aid for you.

The size and shape of your ear canal (if you have narrow or small ears, with the best will in the world you probably won't be able to have a completely invisible hearing aid inside your ear no matter what price you pay). Also if you produce a lot of wax or have ears prone to infection.

The type of hearing loss you have - sloping high frequency losses in particular are hard to fit in the ear aids to, as the blockage of the ear canal causes occlusion.

Also depends what features you want. If you want to hear well in noisy environments you would benefit from directional microphones, which generally aren't found in ITE aids. App control of the sound and Bluetooth often not available in the smallest aids either.

Consultations are free at Specsavers/Boots etc, why not book yourself in and see what is recommended? Ultimately, there is absolutely no point in having a hearing aid that doesn't improve your hearing...sometimes if you choose the wrong style that can be the result, so please try to go in with an open mind to changing if you try it and don't like it.

teetotalpinkgindrinker · 06/03/2025 21:34

Another vote for NHS ones, they are so discreet (unless you have very short hair) that I have had HCPs try to stick an ear thermometer thingy in my ear without seeing them!

Original poster
frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 21:35

oviraptor21 · 06/03/2025 21:12

They are entirely in my ear.
If someone is sideways on to me and can see directly into my ear then they would be able to see them.
I have CIC (completely-in-canal) aids. Just looked them up and they are Widex Moment.
The Oticon ones were even a little smaller.

You are so helpful - thank you so much

OP posts:
Original poster
frumpyfifty · 06/03/2025 21:37

ParsnipPuree · 06/03/2025 21:11

I used to wear hearing aids (now have cochlear implants). I loved the natural sound of Widex. They aren't cheap though. Unless things have changed, the small invisible ones are more for milder hearing losses. I don't blame you.. I would never have had ones that show. (Even my cochlear implant microphone is under my hair away from my ear).

Thank you so much.

OP posts: