A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn behind the ear or in the ear canal. It amplifies sound so that a person with hearing loss can hear sound better. Hearing devices have three components: a microphone, amplifier and speaker. Sound comes through the microphone and is converted into an electrical signal and sent to the amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and sends them to the ear through the speaker.
conductive hearing loss is usually caused by an obstruction in the ear canal, such as swelling due to an ear infection or a benign tumor. If your hearing healthcare professional determines your hearing loss is conductive, your hearing may return to normal once the obstruction has been removed. If your hearing does not return to normal, you may benefit from wearing a hearing aid.
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear. This damage can be caused by exposure to loud noise, illness, medication, injury or age. If your hearing healthcare professional determines you have sensorineural hearing loss, you may benefit from wearing a hearing aid.
Presbycusis, generally a subset of sensorineural, is the loss of hearing that occurs in most individuals as they age. This condition is common and can often be improved with hearing aids.
Why use hearing aids?
Today’s hearing aid users express a higher level of satisfaction with their devices than ever before. According to a study, more than 91 percent of those who purchase new hearing aids are highly satisfied with their purchase. What’s more, nearly 90 percent of hearing technology users would recommend hearing aids to a friend.
What should I look for when choosing a hearing aid?
That depends on your lifestyle and your budget. An active person who enjoys traveling and athletic activities will most likely need a different model of hearing aid than someone who spends most of their time at home watching television.
Find the hearing aid that’s best for you
Find the hearing aid that’s best for you When it comes to choosing a hearing aid, there are three main factors to consider:
Lifestyle
Do you enjoy being on the go—exercising, traveling, running errands, etc.? Or are you more of a homebody?
Dexterity
Are you comfortable changing small batteries or handling hearing aids with multiple pieces?
Severity/type of hearing loss
In which situations—loud rooms, over the phone, group conversations, etc.— do you have trouble hearing?
Answering these questions will help your hearing care professional identify the best solution for your needs.
Hearing aid features
In addition to a variety of hearing aid types, modern technology offers features that make your listening experience both pleasant and natural. From Bluetooth enabled hearing aids to feedback suppression and noise reduction features, these devices are built to ensure ultimate convenience and hearing clarity.
Types of hearing aids
Hearing aids come in six major types, depending on where on the ear they are worn. In this section, you’ll learn the main advantages and disadvantages of each type of hearing aid, as well as which lifestyle and level of hearing loss they are best suited for.
• In-the-ear (ITE)
• In-the-canal (ITC)
• Completely-in-canal (CIC)
• Behind-the-ear (BTE)
• Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC)
• Invisible-in-canal (IIC)
