Hearing aid review: Signia Insio Charge&Go IX - Rechargeable Custom-Made CIC
- Koorosh Nejad
- Sep 5
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Yes, you read it correctly. Now, besides the Starkey Signature rechargeable CIC, you have another option for a rechargeable custom-made invisible CIC hearing aid, the Signia Insio Charge and Go CIC IX. Read through this article to learn more about this product.
Figure 1 - Signia Insio Charge and Go IX - Rechargeable CIC
What are the highlights of the new Signia Insio Charge and Go IX custom-made CIC hearing aids?
Here is a list of the highlights of the new Signia Insio C&G IX CIC hearing aids:
Discrete invisible CIC - invisible for medium to large ear canals
Custom-made fitting - comfortable, better retention
Rechargeable - Up to 35 hours run time
One microphone directionality - better speech understanding in a noisy environment
Charge and go portable charger - 3 hours for a full charge, and 4 times charge on the go
Superior speech understanding - thanks for the 7dB improvement in SNR through directionality, dual processing of the speech and noise, and multispeaker technology
Remote programming - no Bluetooth, but it can be adjusted remotely to some extent
Tinnitus masking and tinnitus notch therapy
Connectivity to your smartphone - controlling volumes and programs
Suitable for mild to severe hearing loss - Covers a bigger range compared to Signia Silk IX
Better wind-noise control (compared to RIC and BTE hearing aids)
CROS and biCROS setting - You can have a unit of Signia Insio C&G IX CIC on the better ear and a Signia Silk Cros transmitted on the deaf side. The Signia Insio will be custom-made, while the Signia Silk transmitted can be fitted with an easy-fit sleeve or a custom-made micromould. This setting can cover mild to severe hearing loss for a CROS and biCROS hearing loss, and places Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC as the only rechargeable custom-made CIC with CROS and biCROS settings in the market.
Let's have a closer look at some of the features of Signia Insio Charge and Go IX.
Is Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC truly invisible?
The Signia Insio custom can be completely invisible for medium to large-sized ear canals. If your ear canal is narrow, it's best to forget IIC and CIC hearing aids. Why? Simply, the CIC hearing aid will protrude from a narrow ear canal and will not be invisible. The best next option for a custom-made hearing aid for patients with a narrow ear canal is ITC hearing aids. At the time of this article, some of the small-sized ITCs are:
The new Phonak Virto Infinio ITC
Rexton bi-core custom-made
Signia Insio custom-made
Why are custom-made hearing aids popular?
The custom-made in-the-ear or in-the-canal hearing aids are popular for the following reasons:
Discrete, vanity
Come in battery-powered and rechargeable, and look slick, similar to music earbuds
Don't interfere with glasses, facemasks, safety goggles, and safety helmets
Better fit and better retention in the ear canal make them a better choice compared to RIC and BTE for active lifestyles, sports, biking, skiing and yoga
Better wind noise management
Better handling for the elderly or those with dexterity, arthritis, or vision problems
Why patients may like rechargeable custom-made hearing aids?
Rechargeable behind-the-ear hearing aids are not new, but rechargeable custom-made aids are becoming more and more available. I usually ask my patients these types of questions to understand how patients choose a particular model and design of hearing aids. The answers that I received in response to this question are:
I don't want to have small batteries everywhere in my life
I am concerned about the environmental impact of small batteries, and I don't have time to dispose of them properly, so it's better to go for rechargeable hearing aids.
I have dexterity (or arthritis), and rechargeable hearing aids are better than dealing with small batteries
Replacing hearing aid batteries reminds me of my grandmother
What are the other rechargeable CIC hearing aids?
At the time of publishing this article, only a few other manufacturers offer rechargeable CIC hearing aids. They are:
Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC (which is the product in this article)
Rexton Reach inoX CIC - easy fit (which is identical to Signia Silk IX CIC)
How similar (or different are Signia Insio C&G IX CIC and Signia Silk IX?
The electronics inside Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC, and Signia Silk IX CIC are identical. They both use single-microphone directionality and use Signia's latest IX (Integrated Experience) multispeaker processing technology. As you might have noticed, their faceplate is identical.
The first difference between the two is that the Signia Silk IX is fitted with easy-fit sleeves, while the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX are custom-made, and that is why it is parked under Signia's Insio custom-made range of hearing aids. This can be a big factor, as some of my patients have a very wide funnel shape, or very upward-bendy ear canals that easy-fit sleeves fail to retain the hearing aid in the ear canal for long. A general advice is that if the shape of your ear canal is such that retaining the CIC hearing aids is challenging or the receiver of the RICs doesn't stay in the ear canal, then your best option is to consider custom-made or micromoulds, respectively.
The second difference between Signia Insio C&G IX and Signia Silk IX is that the former can hold bigger receivers than the latter, hence it can offer a wider range of hearing loss. Signia Silk is suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss, while Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC are suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.
Let's take a closer look at this by a classic case of sloping sensorineural moderate to severe hearing loss as per the following audiogram.
Figure 2 - A moderate to severe sloping sensorineural hearing loss
As you can see in Figure 3, the above moderate to severe hearing loss cannot be fitted with Signia Silk as the aid is not able to provide the necessary power SPL to the eardrum.
Figure 3 - Signia Silk can only cover a mild to moderate range of hearing loss
However, the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX can provide the necessary power for a range of mild to severe hearing loss nicely. See figure 4.
Figure 4 - Signia Insio Charge and Go IX can cover mild to severe hearing loss
Is the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX rechargeable CIC truly directional?
Yes. Signia Silk IX, Rexton Reach inoX, and now the Signia Insio C&G IX CIC are the only hearing aids in the world that use a proprietary technology of Binaural OneMic Directionality (or BOMD 2.0).
Signia's in-house analysis indicated that this technology improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a noisy environment by 7 dB. This means BOMD 2.0 delivers five times the speech enhancement in noise. You can read Signia's white paper about Binaural One Microphone Directionality here. Please note that the fitting of the hearing aid plays a big role in the effectiveness of the aid in controlling the background noise and improving the SNR.
Please see this video that demonstrates how Signia's one-microphone directionality works.
Is Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC Bluetooth?
No. Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC is not Bluetooth enabled; however, it can communicate with your mobile phone (hence Signia app) via a very high frequency coding signal.
Can Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC do notch therapy?
Yes. The Signia Insio C&G IX is the only custom CIC hearing aid in the market that can do tinnitus notch therapy. Please learn more about managing your tinnitus with hearing aids and tinnitus notch therapy in this article.
Do Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC come in CROS and biCROS settings?
Yes. You can order a unit of Signia Insio C&G IX CIC on the better ear and a Signia Silk Cros transmitted on the deaf side. The Signia Insio will be custom-made, while the Signia Silk transmitted can be fitted with an easy-fit sleeve or a custom-made micromould. This setting can cover mild to severe hearing loss for a CROS and biCROS hearing loss, and places Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC as the only rechargeable custom-made CIC with CROS and biCROS settings in the market. A Signia Insio C&G IX CIC in CROS format will offer a generous 26 hours of run time on a full charge (also depends on your level of hearing loss) and uses the same power charger as the binaural Signia Insio IX CIC.
What controls do I have on Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC via the Signia App?
Through the Signia app on your iPhone or Android mobile phone, you can control the volume of your Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC hearing aids. Also, you can adjust the sound of the hearing aids and, more importantly, use different programs manually, including programs for noisy environments, outdoor and reverberant environments.
Can Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC be remotely reprogrammed?
Yes, but not in real time. Unlike other Bluetooth hearing aids that can be reprogrammed and adjusted remotely in real-time, the remote fine-tuning of Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC can be done in basic steps. You send a request to adjust the sound of your Signia Insio to your audiologist. Your audiologist will send a new setting to your mobile phone. You will receive the setting in the Signia App, and when the new setting is accepted, it will be implemented in your hearing aids.
What are the technology levels of Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC?
Just like other hearing aids, the Signia Insio C&G IX CIC comes in 3 different technology levels of 7IX, 5IX and 3IX. The 7IX technology level is the highest level of technology in the hearing aid. Please see the comparison chart of technology levels of Signia Insio C&GO IX CIC below, also on this link.
Table 1 - Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC technology levels comparison chart
How do Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC stand against other custom-made hearing aids in the market?
In my opinion, Signia Insio C&G IX CIC is a serious competitor to most other custom-made hearing aids in the market. Here is why:
Against Starkey Edge AI CIC - The Signia Insio CIC is rechargeable, whereas the Starkey Edge AI CIC takes 312 batteries. The Starkey Edge AI CIC is the only CIC hearing aid in the market with Bluetooth, but in my opinion, the size of the device is often one of the biggest CICs. Also, the fact that the Bluetooth antenna is quite noticeable puts off some people. Nevertheless, the Starkey Edge AI CIC WL has some unique features for a small CIC hearing aid.
Against Phonak Infinio Virto CIC - The Signia Insio IC CIC is rechargeable, but the Phonak Infinio Virto uses size 10 batteries. The latter hearing aid can have a push button to adjust volume or change programs, but the Signia Insio C&G IX CIC does not have a push button, BUT, it connects to its Signia App, while the Phonak Virto Infinio cannot.
Against Oticon Own SI CIC - Again, the Oticon Own SI CIC takes a size 10 battery and can have a push button to adjust the volume of programs. Also, according to Oticon, the Oticon Own SI uses a lighter version of their AI technology for better hearing in noisy environments. Oticon Own SI does not connect to your mobile phone.
In my opinion, one feature that stands out in Signia Charge and Go IX CIC compared to all the other CIC hearing aids is its ability to improve the SNR through Binaural One Microphone Directionality. Also, it is the only CIC hearing aid that can connect to the App for user adjustments and receive setting updates from the audiologist (besides Starkey Edge AI CIC WL, which has Bluetooth and connects to the Starkey App and does streaming.)
What are the downsides of choosing Signia Insio C&G IX CIC?
In addition to the range of your hearing loss, your lifestyle also plays a role in your choice of hearing aid form. Let me elaborate on this a bit. I have a yoga instructor who visited the clinic for consultation. She is not too much into streaming music and so on, so the lack of Bluetooth in CIC hearing aids was not a priority; however, she needed a hearing aid that stays fit over a range of yoga movements and postures, especially on a hot summer day when body temperature goes up. On the other side, I provided a hearing aid consultation to a gentleman who works in political affairs. He participates in a lot of noisy events and needs to hear speech laser sharp in noisy environments, when there is live music, and when there are tens of people in an indoor event. He landed on Phonak Infinio Sphere i90. So it is not about missing some functionality when choosing hearing aid A versus B. It is more about understanding your wants and needs and choosing the hearing aid that meets your top priorities. Here are the areas to consider if you want to go ahead with Signia Insio C&G IX CIC:
It has no Bluetooth, so no streaming or hands-free calls
Basic remote telecare, best fitted and supported through in-clinic consultations
Only invisible if your ear canal is medium to large
What are the colours of Signia Insio C&G IX CIC?
The Signia Insio C&G IX CIC comes in 3 colours as shown below. My favourite one is black. Another piece of advice, if your ear canals are large, then go for the black colour as they will be truly invisible, and the ear canal without a hearing aid is a black hole anyway. If your ear canals are medium-sized, then the CIC aid's faceplate will be visible, hence you may want to go for Mocha or Dark Brown to match your skin colour.
Should I buy Signia Silk IX or Signia Insio C&G IX CIC?
Most of the patients that I have consulted started with Signia Silk and ended up buying Rexton Reach inoX, simply because they are the same product. But now there is a serious rivalry for a rechargeable CIC hearing aid in the market. The Signia Insio C&G IX CIC is superior to Signia Silk and Rexton Reach inoX in several ways:
Signia Insio C&G IX CIC has a wider range. If your ear canal allows it, it can hold a Power receiver, hence it can cover from mild to severe hearing loss, while Signia Silk and Rexton Reach can only cover mild to moderate hearing loss.
Signia Insio C&G IX CIC is custom-made, which means when in the ear, it feels more secure, more comfortable and has better retention.
Signia Insio C&G IX CIC does not have a CROS or biCROS system. If you are single-sided deaf, and you are looking for a rechargeable invisible CIC CROS or biCROS system, you can consider Signia Silk IX CROS or Rexton Reach inoX CROS.
In spite of the above advantages of the Signia Insio CIC, if you are not able to visit a clinic for making ear impressions and wish to purchase a rechargeable CIC remotely, Signia Silk IX and Rexton Reach inoX are the best options in the market. Indeed, these two products are two of the best choices for first-time user of hearing aids who wish to understand how it feels to manage their mild to moderate hearing loss and have a pair of rechargeable in-the-canal invisible hearing aids for social events and gatherings.
Can I order a pair of Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC?
Similar to other custom-made hearing aids, we need to make ear impressions from your ear canals and send them to Signia Lab (book an appointment here). We will send the ear impressions to the lab and will call you in about 2-3 weeks when the aids arrive to invite you for a fitting appointment. Like other custom-made hearing aids, the Signia Insio C&G IX CIC is best fitted in an in-clinic appointment.
Alternatively, you may visit a local audiologist to make deep canal ear impressions and ship them to us for making your Signia Insio C&G IX CIC. Then come to the clinic for a fitting. This approach reduces your visits to our clinic by just one visit, making it suitable for those travelling to London or who wish to limit their visit to our clinic.
Signia Insio C&G IX CIC comes with a 5-year UK and one-year International warranty. Also, it comes with a 30-day full refund policy. Please see our warranty and aftercare terms here.
Please contact us via the product page for a free consultation.
Reference:
Questions?
Please book a free telecare consultation if you are interested in learning more about the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX hearing aids or how to order one.
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