With so many options out there, how to you find out which hearing aid will work best for you? It all depends on the kind of hearing loss and level of loss you have. If both of your ears have hearing loss, then you need 2 hearing aids. One for each ear. Not all expensive hearing aids work well or suit your needs, you need to talk to your doctor. Unlike an implant, hearing aids are like eye glasses that you need to wear all the time. So size and comfort levels really make a big difference. Sometimes you have to try out several to find the right one.
Like prescription eye glasses, hearing aids are not going to help restoring your hearing. They help you hear better. Hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss that results from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells.
The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. Many people who have this kind of hearing loss due to a damage done by disease, aging, or injury from noise or certain medicines.
How does exactly a hearing aid work? It simply magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain.
Just like eye glasses, the more severe a person’s hearing loss is, the greater the hearing aid amplification needed. But be aware that even the greatest amplification can have limits. If your inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into neural signals. In fact, under this condition, a hearing aid won’t help.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Not all hearing aids work the same way. There are 2 main kinds of hearing aids: analog and digital. The analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electrical signals and then amplified. You have to have it custom built and programmed by the manufacturer. They are like getting prescription eye glasses where the audiologists would give the maker the specifications. Analog hearing aids are usually cheaper than digital ones.
The digital aids works differently by converting sound waves into numerical codes and then amplifying them. This kind of hearing aid provides more flexibility to adjust to the needs and environments. Many people prefer digital hearing aids. But they’re more expensive.
Source: National Institutes of Health
There are basically three kinds of hearing aids. Behind the ear, in the ear, and canal hearing aids. The ones that are frequently being used are behind and ear and in the ear.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids has a hard plastic case worn behind the ear and connected to a plastic earmold that fits inside the outer ear. The electronic parts are held in the case behind the ear. Sound travels from the hearing aid through the earmold and into the ear. BTE aids are used by people of all ages for mild to profound hearing loss.
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids fit completely inside the outer ear and are used for mild to severe hearing loss. The case holding the electronic components is made of hard plastic.
ITE aids usually are not worn by young children because the casings need to be replaced often as the ear grows.
Canal aids fit into the ear canal and are available in two styles. The in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is made to fit the size and shape of a person’s ear canal. A completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid is nearly hidden in the ear canal. Both types are used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Source: NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
If you have not seen a hearing aid, it is basically a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It amplifies certain sounds so that you can hear better. It allow a person who suffers hearing loss listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities.
The beauty of a good hearing aid is that it helps people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations. Believe it or not, only about one out of five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one. Most people either don’t want to wear one, or just simply unaware of its benefits.
A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. Over the last 2 decades, hearing aids have become better, more powerful, smaller, and cheaper. You can purchase one simple sound amplifier for less than $20. The high end hearing aids can go up to around $200.
It all depends on your personal need and life style. But you should have your hearing checked by a health professional before you purchase any hearing aids.
If you don’t notice any hearing problems and you’re young and healthy, you should be ok. But if you are over age 65, get your hearing checked. Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age. Just look at the statistics, 1 in 3 Americans between ages 65 and 74 has a hearing problem and 1 in 2 Americans over age 75 has a hearing problem. As people age, they will notice some hearing loss. If you have hearing loss, you aren’t alone. Start by asking your doctor for a hearing test. Talk to your doctor and he may refer you to a hearing specialist.
Most people lose their hearings to some degrees as they age. If you think that you might have a hearing problem, see your doctor to have it checked. You might have a hearing loss if you:
- often ask people to repeat themselves;
- hear ringing in your ears;
- have trouble hearing when there’s noise in the background;
- family members say you turn the TV volume up too high;
- have trouble hearing over the telephone.
If you are over age 65, get your hearing checked. Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age.
- 1 in 3 Americans between ages 65 and 74 has a hearing problem.
- 1 in 2 Americans over age 75 has a hearing problem.
If you have hearing loss, you aren’t alone. Start by asking your doctor for a hearing test. Your doctor may refer you to a hearing specialist.
Hearing loss can be frustrating and even dangerous. If you have hearing loss, you may:
- Have trouble hearing doorbells or alarms
- Miss important directions or warnings
- Feel lonely or depressed
Hearing problems can get worse if they are not treated. That’s why it’s important to get your hearing checked.
If you find out you have a hearing problem, you can take steps to deal with it before it gets worse.
Source: National Health Information Center
If you are over age 65, get your hearing checked. Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age.
- One out of three (1 in 3) Americans between ages 65 and 74 has a hearing problem.
- Half of adults (1 in 2) over age 75 have a hearing problem.
If you have hearing loss, you are not alone. Start by asking your doctor for a hearing test. Your doctor may refer you to a hearing specialist.
Source: National Health Information Center