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Hearing Aids
Hearing aids explained
Hearing aids are electronic devices inserted into the ear to help magnify sound for the user. Hearings aids were designed for people with loss of hearing to be able to function in society without having to miss what was going on around them. Hearing aids must be ordered through an audiologist who will contact the manufacturer with the specifications to program each individual hearing aid. As a wearer uses them, the hearing aid will need periodic adjustments to be better suited to the individual. Problems such as feedback and settings will need to be worked out over time so that the wearer can get the maximum benefit from their hearing aid.
Types of hearing aids:
There are two main types of hearing aids: Analog and Digital. Analog hearing aids have been around the longest. They work by converting sound into an electronic signal, amplify them, and then send them on through the user’s ear. Analog hearing aids are typically built on an individual basis based on a person’s audiogram and audiologist specifications. They can be programmed to work in a variety of different scenarios based on the settings. Users can change the settings to have their hearing aid work in a crowded room or a small quiet setting.
Digital hearing aids work by converting sound into a numerical code that is then amplified for the wearer. Digital hearing aids can be programmed to amplify various pitches as well as loudness so they work better for people who have a loss of hearing in a certain range of tones. The digital hearing aid has more flexibility in programming than the analog hearing aid. Digital hearing aids typically cost more than analog hearing aids do.
Styles of hearing aids:
There are two main styles of hearing aids. One hearing aid is designed with an earpiece that fits behind the ear and the aid is in the ear canal opening. For discreteness, the second style is placed in the ear canal and hidden from view. There are four options for this style. One has an earpiece that fits inside the ear where the flesh curves down. The other three have receivers placed directly in the ear with varying degrees of depth starting from just barely in the canal to completely within the canal.
The individual, with the help of their audiologist, will need to decide at the time of ordering what type and style best fits their needs and budget. Comfort, fit, and style will all need to be addressed so that the wearer can enjoy being able to hear again with a hearing aid that is right for them.