TICI UNICO Support

Invisible cochlear implants, also known as totally implantable cochlear implants, work by turning sound into electrical signals that stimulate the inner ear. First, the implanted microphone picks up the sound, which it sends to the stimulator. This stimulates the inner ear (cochlea) using electrical signals. The brain interprets these signals as sound.

The main difference between invisible cochlear implants and classic cochlear implants is that classic cochlear implants use an external audio processor to pick up sounds. In contrast, invisible cochlear implants feature a microphone that is fully implanted under the skin.

Otherwise, invisible cochlear implants and classic cochlear implants work in a very similar way, using electrical signals to bypass damaged cells and stimulate the inner ear.

Like classic cochlear implants, TICI is suitable for people with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. Because TICI offers hearing 24 hours a day with no externally-worn device, it can enhance comfort and convenience in everyday activities.

In some cases, it may be possible for you to switch to TICI. However, a change to a different implant system requires careful evaluation and discussion with your hearing implant team, who can advise whether this is an appropriate option for your individual situation.

It’s also possible to use a classic cochlear implant on one ear, and TICI on the other ear.

Yes, hearing while sleeping is one of the features our TICI users love. Because there is no external device, they can hear 24 hours a day, which is especially handy if you have little children to look after. But if you prefer to sleep in silence, it’s also possible to turn TICI off.

TICI has been developed and manufactured at MED-EL’s headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. This lets us maintain the highest standards of European quality and engineering.