How Do Hearing Aids Work and Buying Tips
Hearing problems can be divided into 2 categories, namely conductive and “sensorineural”. An irregularity in the communication of sound to the outer or middle ear is called conductive, while an abnormality on the cochlear and auditory nerve is referred to as sensorineural. The former can be helped with the use of analog hearing aids which basically amplifies sound. The latter fixes the problem of sound processing, and use of digital hearing aids gets the job done.
Analog hearing aids make use of the process of amplification by making sound waves larger. They come as either conventional or programmable types. Conventional instruments consist of circuitry that allows for a simple volume control in adjusting how loud sound is received. Programmable instruments, on the other hand, have circuitry that can be programmed to suit the level of your hearing loss or desired volume.
Digital hearing aids work by digitizing sound to produce a clean and customized sound output. They are custom-fit based on the degree of your hearing loss. Millions of algorithms perform calculations faster than you can blink in order to digitally process sound, while reducing or eliminating feedback, noise and distortion. From the collection of sound, it undergoes transformation to digital format using digital processes and translates them to recognizable analog sound. Maximum flexibility and precise fine-tuning are what makes them better instruments.
Hearing aids have taken lots of form, small or big. But they generally fall into four categories. They come as BTE (behind the ear), ITE (in the ear), ITC (in the canal), and CIC (completely in the canal). BTE’s houses its microphone and amplifier in a plastic casing that fits behind the ear. They are mostly recommended for children because of their robustness.
In the ear or ITE models are tailored to fit a certain individual’s outer ear. They are recommended for patients with mild to severe hearing problems, although a bit difficult to use as compared to BTE’s due to their size. In the canal or ITC’s are smaller than ITE’s and only take up half the space of your ear. They are much less visible compared to ITE and BTE models, and are recommended for mild to moderate hearing loss.
CIC’s are the smallest type of hearing aids available in the market, and are barely visible when worn. This requires custom-fitting for individuals with ear canals large enough to accept the instrument. Despite their aesthetic appeal, they are not recommended for severe hearing loss.
With so many hearing aids in the market, you ask yourself, where do I start? This is a question that is very difficult to answer since every individual with hearing loss has different needs based on the degree of hearing loss they have, their way of life, and the mode of communication they experience everyday.
One cannot base his decision by comparing the experience and review of others regarding their hearing aids. A certain model may be good for them, but that does not necessarily mean that it is good for you too. Only by taking hearing tests and proper evaluation can you truly specify what your needs are in order to choose the right device.
Visiting a doctor, an audiologist, or a hearing instrument specialist can help you in choosing from a wide range of hearing aids that’s right for you. You can find hearing tests and evaluation centers near your place or even online that will pinpoint what your needs are. Only then will you be able to make your decision from the wide variety of analog and digital hearing aids.