If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
Best Invisible Hearing Aids Overall
Sony CRE-C20 Hearing Aids
Best Sounding Invisible Hearing Aids
Eargo 7
Best Invisible Prescription Hearing Aids
Signia Silk 7X
Invisible Hearing Aids to Avoid
Buyer Beware
Stigmas should be stigmatized. Whether we’re talking about mental health or wearing cargo pants, the world would benefit from less societal shade. When it comes to hearing aids, these often-bulky devices can age a wearer faster than gray hair or referencing Jefferson Airplane deep cuts. But despite often being associated with seniors, more than 9 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 59 have some degree of hearing loss. Still, the stigma is enough to keep most of these people from even considering an assistive listening device, not to mention other factors like high costs and a difficult-to-navigate market.
But invisible hearing aids are, as the name suggests, difficult to see by others when they’re worn. While completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are the most “invisible,” they’re not available over the counter and need to be inserted by a professional audiologist. In this roundup, we’ll take a look at the best in-the-ear (ITE) devices, sometimes referred to as in-the-canal (ITC). Because of their small stature, they often have fewer technical features than some of the larger, less-subtle behind-the-ear (BTE) options, but they can treat mild to moderate hearing loss, often quite well.
To aid in my research, I recruited the help of licensed audiologist Ruth Reisman, who recommended devices based on analysis conducted in a scientific lab (the real deal), ensuring these aids met the performance standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). I also conducted hands-on testing with more than 20 products, evaluating quality and comfort in a wide array of settings to ensure an accurate representation of the user experience. For more details about our process, refer to our general hearing aids guide.
Updated August 2024: We’ve added the Sony CRE-C20.
Compare Prices and Key Features
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Types of Invisible Hearing Aids
There are several types of hearing aids you’ll come across as you research the right one for you. While you’ll see many acronyms, most of these styles fall under one of the two main types of hearing aids: behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE), the latter being invisible or at least somewhat invisible. A subcategory of the ITE market is completely-in-canal (CIC) devices, which are out of sight but are not available over the counter and they must be inserted by a doctor.
-
Photograph: Christopher Null
Best Invisible Hearing Aids Overall
Sony CRE-C20 Hearing Aids
Developed to address mild to moderate hearing loss, the sleek Sony CRE-C20 hearing aids (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have quickly become some of our favorite over-the-counter units. Much like Sony’s renowned headphones, the C20s offer crisp, balanced sound. Armed with the Sony Hearing Control mobile app, users can customize the device without a trip to the audiologist, thanks to a 10-minute-long hearing test that’s built into the app.
The Sony CRE-C20 hearing aids address our biggest complaint about their predecessors, the CRE-C10s, by moving from replaceable batteries to rechargeable ones. While replaceable cells have better longevity, they’re inconvenient and can be a hazard to young children and pets if they’re swallowed. Instead, just pop these aids in their included case overnight and you should never have to worry about running out of juice.
The CRE-C20s are $200 more expensive today than the C10s—which are still on the market as a more budget-friendly option—but for most users, the added convenience of rechargeable batteries will wholly be worth the extra expense.
OTC. Compatible with iOS and Android. Battery life of 28 hours.
-
Photograph: Eargo
Best Sounding Invisible Hearing Aids
Eargo 7
Let’s address the expensive elephant in the room: the Eargo 7 (7/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids are pricey for over-the-counter devices. At $2,550 a pair, the Rx-esque cost is hard to justify. But what they lack in affordability, they more than makes up for in exceptional sound quality across a broad spectrum of environments. I was impressed by the clarity of audio under multiple conditions. Each mode provided crisp sound that made speech clearer and amplified external media like televisions and music players without any of the feedback that the brand’s previous models suffered from. With a weight of about 1 gram, the Eargo 7 are so small that even those looking closely will probably miss it.
All that said, it’d be nice if they were a bit more comfortable to wear. The Eargo 7’s interlocking petals, which allow them to sit snugly in your ear canal, became itchy after a few hours. The calibration test is pretty finicky as well, turning what should have been a simple 10-minute process into a 30-minute headache.
OTC. Compatible with iOS and Android. Battery life of 16 hours.
-
Photograph: Save Hear
Best Invisible Prescription Hearing Aids
Signia Silk 7X
The main selling point of invisible hearing aids is that other people won’t notice you wearing them, but it’s a bonus if you can forget you’re wearing them too. While some may not mind a little maintenance here and there, you may simply want to put in your hearing aids and then go on with your day. To bring this fantasy to life, you’ll need a device with a long-lasting battery you won’t need to continually charge every day or so. Look no further than the in-the-ear Signia Silk 7X (7/10, WIRED Review), which boasts a 5-to-7-day battery life using a size 10 disposable battery. These prescription aids are among of the smallest on the market and come with soft silicone “click sleeves” for all-day comfort. (If the device looks similar to the Sony CRE-C10, that’s intentional: Sony’s hearing aids are based on Signia’s technology.)
As with any invisible hearing aid that has disposable batteries, swapping them can be a challenge if you have large fingers or poor dexterity. But thanks to the battery’s longevity, you’ll have to deal with this hassle only about once a week. While the price is ridiculously high, there’s 12-month 0 percent financing available to help manage the sting.
Rx. Compatible with iOS and Android. Battery life of 5 to 7 days.
-
Photograph: Audien Hearing; GETTY IMAGES
Invisible Hearing Aids to Avoid
Buyer Beware
Invisible or not, the market is becoming saturated with low-quality hearing aids that don’t offer much else besides subtlety. While it’s great that you no longer have to broadcast your hearing loss to everyone in the room, it’s also easy to get lured into the promise of “invisibility” at a low cost. Here are a few invisible hearing aids we don’t fully recommend:
The Audien Hearing Atom One (5/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids are cheap, subtle, FDA-compliant, and … that’s about it. With the amount of price gouging present in the hearing aid industry, I applaud the Atom One’s sub-$100 price, but the quality just isn’t worth even that low outlay. There are also no smart features on the device, which lacks Bluetooth, a mobile app, or even a charging case.
The Ceretone Core One (5/10, WIRED Review) hearing aids are an over-the-counter offering that also keeps costs low at $350 a pair. They’re arguably the smallest and lightest hearing aids available, but they emit an ear-piercing feedback screech whenever you make even the slightest bit of contact with them, making for an unpleasant user experience. Aside from that, they’re echoey and hard to insert, and the mobile app you’re dependent on to make adjustments is beyond terrible.
-
Photograph: Halfdark/Getty Images
How Much Do In-the-Ear Hearing Aids Cost?
Hearing aids are a market in chaos, with price options as low as $100 and as high as $10,000. As expected, prescription in-the-ear and completely-in-canal hearing aids cost way more than over-the-counter models. On average, an Rx device will cost between $2,000 and $8,000, and quality OTCs will run you between $800 and $2,000 a pair. While we’d love to prop up the $100 options that are hitting shelves amid the OTC boom, we’ve yet to find one that treats hearing loss effectively. Here are some options for managing the high costs of hearing aids:
Financing is an option for all the hearing aid brands on this list. For example, the most expensive device we recommend, the prescription Signia Silk 7X, offers 12-month financing with zero percent APR. Several third-party financing companies like Klarna or Care Credit may be helpful.
Insurance may be an option as an add-on to existing coverage. In general, employer-based health plans don’t offer hearing aid reimbursements outright, but supplemental options may be available. Those over the age of 65 can possibly enroll in the add-on Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) for hearing-related benefits. Medicaid or VA benefits are options as well.
Contact your local state department to see if you qualify for an assistance program that helps pay for your hearing aids. While not all states offer this service, they may be able to direct you to other organizations in your jurisdiction that can.
-
Photograph: PixelCatchers/Getty Images
What About Warranties?
Most hearing aids come with a warranty and any which do not should be considered with extreme skepticism. Warranty periods vary, but one year is probably the most common: These warranties often cover repairs to damaged hearing aid devices but they do not cover replacement if you lose your hearing aids or destroy them beyond the ability to be repaired.
Some vendors offer extended protection plans at the time of purchase. Jabra, for example, offers its hearing aids with a standard one-year warranty, but if you pay an extra $200 at purchase that warranty moves up to three years. The upcharge also includes access to Jabra’s internal audiologists, providing a better level of service over that period. Lexie sells an additional protection plan that covers accidental damage for two years after purchase—and provides some protection against loss and theft too.
When shopping for hearing aids, check the fine print: Hearing aids are expensive, so make sure you fully understand the warranty details before you buy. Many hearing aid companies have excellent pre-sales support that can walk you through any questions.
-
Photograph: mladenbalinovac/Getty Images
What is Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)?
By the age of 70, about two-thirds of Americans will suffer some level of hearing loss strictly related to age (as opposed to damage). It is the most common cause of hearing loss globally. Presbycusis means “old hearing” and it’s most heavily characterized by loss of the ability to understand some of the most common parts of speech. Typically, people with presbycusis will have trouble distinguishing among the so-called “voiceless consonants,” which include p, k, and f sounds, among others. If you have ever had trouble understanding whether someone said “shin” or “chin,” for example, you’re on the right track to knowing what presbycusis feels like.
Not all presbycusis diagnoses are the same. There is a wide range of sub-types of presbycusis physicians can diagnose, including neural presbycusis (related to loss of nerve fibers in the ear) and mechanical presbycusis (due to physical changes to the ear canal). The specific type of presbycusis affecting a patient may encourage a physician to treat them with a different approach or a different type of hearing aid product.
Presbycusis often comes on slowly, and many sufferers only find out about it because a friend or family notes the difficulty the patient is having with hearing. Even routine medical exams are not effective for diagnosing presbycusis. Rather, patients who suspect they may be suffering from presbycusis should consult with their physician.
-
Photograph: Eargo
Are Small Hearing Aids Worse Than Others?
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are big for a reason. Those thick plastic devices that sit on the back of the ear are packed with technology and software that can adapt to different environments and be customized according to your hearing test.
Smaller hearing aids, like in-the-ear (ITE) or completely-in-canal (CIC) ones, tend to sacrifice some of this technological prowess in favor of a sleeker design. They’re generally geared toward casual users who are more style-focused than tech-focused. That said, small hearing aids have come a long way in recent years and will continue to improve over time. Many are nearly as effective as BTE models.
