About Hearing Aids

Most people have heard of a hearing aid or know someone who uses one. However, some things about the hearing aid and its usage are not common knowledge such as how a hearing aid works, why they are so expensive and who really needs one.

Function

A hearing aid is a prosthetic device inserted into the ear in order to help a person hear well. A hearing aid consists of an outer shell, or casing, microphones or sometimes dual microphones on the top of the hearing aid that pick up sound. Internal parts that the sound travels through like a digital processor or amplifier (in more advanced hearing aids) where the sound is examined by a computer chip that determines what type of sound came in. The hearing aid then reacts by either turning parts of the sound up or down to help clarify the sound for the user. The computer in the hearing aid is programmed with the type of hearing loss specific to the user. After the processor adjusts the sound, it is then put through a receiver that is down in the user's ear canal and the sound is heard.

Potential

The need for, and benefits of, a hearing aid is determined by an audio-metric test that is designed to detect hearing loss in the range of human speech. Hearing aids are designed to enhance the range of hearing for conversation or speech; there are noise ranges that would be very uncomfortable to amplify with hearing aids. For the deaf community, hearing aids provide a means of hearing certain loud noises so they can be safer and more aware of their surroundings.

Process

A specialist will determine what style of hearing aid would be best according to the hearing test results and the user's physical characteristics like ear size, dexterity and lifestyle. Once the style is chosen, a custom mold of the ear canal is taken, the hearing aid is then programmed with the results of the user's hearing test, and the user is shown how to insert and remove the hearing aid and how to adjust it for sound quality and volume. This process takes about an hour. When a custom mold is taken, usually the hearing aid takes about 2 weeks to be made, and it is then fitted.

Benefits

When wearing a hearing aid, the user stimulates the parts of the brain responsible for hearing, and as these parts are usually damaged, it takes some time to rehabilitate the hearing in the brain. A hearing aid does not reverse hearing loss or cure it, and it does not stop hearing loss from occurring. What a hearing aid does is help users hear well and to stimulate the region in the brain responsible for hearing in order to maintain the ability to understand conversation or speech. Like with any prosthetic, there is a rehabilitation period and a retraining period for that part of the body. It's about a 6-month process to fully adjust to wearing hearing aids.

Considerations

There are many types of hearing aids available. Modern hearing aids literally mean getting a computer for your ears. The more advanced the computer, the better the sound quality. Make sure to see an experienced and certified hearing specialist that specializes in determining the need for hearing aids and the fitting of hearing aids.