And you can't even see it.
Discover TICI 
MED-EL
Published Oct 13, 2026
What Our First Users Think About the Invisible Cochlear Implant
Recently we've introduced MED-EL TICI, the first commercially available and totally invisible cochlear implant. With all components, including the microphone, fully implanted under the skin, TICI UNICO brings a new level of hearing freedom to people with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss.
But how do users like their new hearing implant? In this blog post, some of the first recipients share their experiences with us. Here’s what Thomas, Jenny, Harald, and Sofie think about TICI, what they like best about their invisible cochlear implant, and how their lives changed once they got it.
“It Makes Life a Lot Easier for Me”—Thomas, Austria
One of the biggest advantages of TICI for Thomas is not having to worry about an external device: “I can go into the shower with it. I can run when it’s raining. I don’t have to worry about forgetting something in my ear—that makes life a lot easier for me.” Thomas got used to living with TICI quickly. “His progress was quite fast. He started already getting used to it in the first couple of weeks,” his wife Milena remarks.
Before he got implanted, Thomas had struggled with following conversations in background noise or during work meetings. Now he feels more confident, less stressed, and more connected to the people around him. “I have the ability to live, more or less, a normal life,” he says.
“I Don’t Want to Imagine Life Without TICI Anymore”—Jenny, Germany
With TICI, Jenny feels independent and more connected in her everyday life: “I don’t even want to imagine life without TICI anymore, because it’s given me so much independence.” Whereas before Jenny would feel disconnected from the people around her and struggle with her day-to-day and professional tasks, everything’s easier now that she has TICI.
Jenny loves the round-the-clock access to sound: “I can hear my daughter at night now. I can leave TICI on all night long—it’s reliable. If she needs something and cries, I hear her straight away and can respond,” she says. Jenny also appreciates that with TICI’s discreet and invisible design, it’s up to her whether or not others get to know about her hearing loss.
“I Don’t Have to Worry About the Processor”—Harald, Austria
Harald first got curious about TICI when he heard that it was fully implanted. With no external audio processor to worry about, he can do sports or go swimming with his son and still hear. “Before I had TICI doing sports was tricky, because too much movement often caused my device to fall off, and I don’t have that with TICI anymore,” Harald says.
TICI’s sound quality—similar to that of classic CIs—especially impressed Harald: “In the beginning, I was very skeptical about whether or not TICI would have the same audio quality as a regular CI. But now I can say that there’s no difference.” Harald can hear every sound his son makes, even when they’re splashing around in the pool. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that without TICI,” he says.
“It’s Become a Constant Companion in My Daily Life”—Sofie, Germany
“I decided to go with TICI because I simply wanted to have the kind of freedom that TICI promised,” says Sofie. She likes that, with TICI, she doesn’t have to think about her hearing and can just go about her day: “I only have to turn it on once in the morning and turn it off once in the evening, and it works the entire day without me having to worry about it at all,” Sofie explains.
“TICI changed our lives because everything’s easier for Sofie now,” her husband shares. Next to the newfound ease in her daily life, Sofie also feels more connected to the people around her ever since she got TICI: “My relationship with my family has improved because I can understand them better now.”
Want to learn more about TICI, the biggest innovation in hearing history?
Discover TICIReferences
MED-EL
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© MED-EL Medical Electronics. All rights reserved. The content on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Contact your doctor or hearing specialist to learn what type of hearing solution suits your specific needs. Not all products, features, or indications are approved in all countries.
Jeffrey Hirsh
October 14, 2026
I am very upset that you did not advise me or my surgeon at University of Miami that the TICI was becoming available when I got implanted a few months ago. I am an avid swimmer and boater and would have opted for this. Of course cosmetically it is superior. You definitely should have made the release date available.
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi Jeffrey, thank you for reaching out. In some cases, it may be possible for an existing cochlear implant user 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. For further support on this as well as information on availability in your country, we recommend getting in touch with your local MED-EL team directly: https://www.medel.com/contact-med-el Kind regards
Linda Cook
October 14, 2026
I am kind of deflated, If I had known Med-El was coming out or had an invisible implant I would have chosen that over the external processor I had my surgery in July 2026- I am still healing and getting used to the processor. It is a constant reminder of always being conscious of having it attached by the hair clip as it is easy to get detached from my head that is the frustrating part of the cochlear implant having the external processor I am praying maybe the processor will get smaller or something can be done to transition from extrernal to internal thanks Linda
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi Linda, thank you for reaching out. In some cases, it may be possible for an existing cochlear implant user 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. For further support on this, we recommend getting in touch with your local MED-EL team directly: https://www.medel.com/contact-med-el Kind regards
Horace Jordan
October 14, 2026
When will TICI be available in other European Union Countries? Spain, Turkeye, etc
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi Horace, thank you for your comment. TICI UNICO is CE mark approved and already commercially available. Please contact your local MED-EL team as they have the latest updates on availability in your country. https://www.medel.com/about-medel/med-el-offices-worldwide Kind regards
William D Arledge
October 14, 2026
Wondering that there's no external audio device. So is there an internal battery that must be recharged or is something different?
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi William, thanks for your question. Everything, including the microphone, is implanted. TICI UNICO is simple to charge. You just need to place your GoPod over your implant. TICI UNICO typically charges in around an hour and lasts around 40 hours between charges. Kind regards
John Carsten
October 14, 2026
I have a cochlear implant in February 2025. I am 83 years old. I am struggling with understanding sounds. I was wondering if this new device would improve that. What if it needed repair--where would I have to go? How long would repairs take? And where would I have to go? I would need assurance that instrument failure is rare. Is it ever going to wear out--what is its lifespan? Can it be damaged? Would my balance be affected?
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi John, thank you for your questions. TICI is built to offer you long-term hearing, with a proven, robust design comparable to classic cochlear implants. The battery itself is designed to last and typically offers a full day of hearing from a single charge, even after 15 years of use. Please note that all parts of the TICI UNICO are subject to the highest level of safety standards by regulatory authorities worldwide to ensure their safety and proper functioning. If a recipient experiences any medical concerns, we recommended getting in touch with their local MED-EL team and hearing professional. Reimplantation should be evaluated with their hearing healthcare professional. If you'd like to learn more, we recommend getting in touch with your local MED-EL team directly: https://www.medel.com/contact-med-el Kind regards
Doug Muir
October 15, 2026
It’s an amazing advance in cochlear implant technology. I have biannual implants and use MED-EL. First one 14 years ago and the second 4 years ago. As technology improved, I went from OPUS to SONNET3 and RONDO3. However with the original implant, I can’t have an MRI. I can with the second. How will these latest implants deal with the changing technology? Cheers. Doug
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi Doug, thank you for reaching out. TICI UNICO is MR conditional at 1.5 T and 3.0 T, allowing hassle-free MRIs with no surgery. You can also do X-rays and CT for medical images. Please note - for MRI and ionizing radiation treatments (including X-ray, CT, ionizing radiation therapy), the TICI must be switched off and the external components (e.g. GoPod) must always be removed. Recipients and hearing professionals can find more information in the Medical Procedure Manual (MPM). Please inform medical staff before any medical procedure that you have an implant. Kind regards
Willem Planche
October 15, 2026
Hello, I was wondering if the change from a normal CI to the TICI only requieres the processor to be replaced and made internal or if the electrode around the cochlea also needs to be redone, i.e. then it would be an entire new operation? Kind regards, Willem
MED-EL
October 15, 2026
Hi Willem, thanks for your question. In some cases, it may be possible for an existing cochlear implant user 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. Kind regards
Ewan
October 15, 2026
It is wonderful to hear these testimonials and see how far CI has come in the last few decades. I have been happy with my CI’s and have mostly positive things to say about them - they are truly amazing, but it would also be good to hear of any pet peeves.
Semih
October 20, 2026
Merhaba, 1998 yılından beri kullanmış olduğum medel koklear implant işlemcinin yeni üretilen tici unico ile güncellemesini istiyorum en yakın ve en hızlı şekilde Türkiye ye de gelmesini ve Türkiye deki tüm kullanıcıların faydalanmasını talep etmekteyiz bu konuda desteklerinizi bekliyoruz İyi çalışmalar.
MED-EL
October 21, 2026
Semih, thank you for sharing your comment with us. TICI UNICO is the world's first commercially available fully implantable cochlear implant and only on the market for a few weeks. We recommend getting in touch with your local MED-EL team, as they have the latest updates on availability of TICI UNICO in your country: https://www.medel.com/about-medel/med-el-offices-worldwide
Guido Kohl
October 20, 2026
Kann man mit dem Tici auch streamen oder gibt es dafür Zubehör? Viele Grüße Guido
MED-EL
October 23, 2026
Hallo Guido, TICI hat eine integrierte Telespule. Direktes Streaming ist zwar nicht möglich, aber du kannst mit TICI ganz einfach reguläre Kopfhörer verwenden, du musst sie nur über dem Mikrofon positionieren: https://www.medel.com/de/hearing-solutions/tici#faqs
Gabriele Di Donato
October 25, 2026
TICI utilizza un unico microfono, sottopelle: come si comporta in caso di suoni provenienti da diverse direzioni? Cioè si riesce a distinguere da dove proviene un suono?
MED-EL
October 28, 2026
Ciao Gabriele, grazie della domanda. TICI utilizza un microfono omnidirezionale, in quanto il suono sottopelle si comporta in modo diverso rispetto a quanto avviene all'esterno. Saluti, Giulia
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