CIC
Also written as: CIC — Completely-in-Canal
The smallest visible custom hearing aid style, fitted deeply within the ear canal with only a small removal cord visible at the canal opening.
Full Definition
Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are custom-moulded devices whose entire shell sits within the ear canal, with only a small plastic retrieval cord extending to the canal entrance for removal. Their deep placement provides acoustic benefits including reduced wind noise and exploitation of the pinna's natural directional filtering, and makes them highly cosmetically discreet. CIC instruments are generally suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing losses and may be contraindicated in patients with small or tortuous ear canals. Editors should place CIC correctly within the custom aid size hierarchy (ITE > ITC > CIC > IIC) and note that the term is always hyphenated in its expanded form.
Usage
Usage note: Expand on first use. Do not confuse with IIC (invisible-in-canal), which is fitted even more deeply. Always hyphenate the expanded form.
In Context
- "The patient opted for a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid for cosmetic reasons, though the audiologist noted that manual dexterity might present a challenge." — Hearing aid consultation note
- "CIC devices were referenced four times in the document before the expanded form was introduced; the editor corrected this." — Proofreading annotation