How hearing aids work – All hearing aids use the same basic equipment inside them to carry sounds from the environment into your ear & make them louder. Most hearing aids are digital & all are powered with a traditional hearing aid battery or a rechargeable battery. Small microphones collect sounds from the environment. A chip with an amplifier converts the incoming sound into digital code. It analyzes & adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs & the level of the sounds around you. The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves & delivered to your ears through speakers which are called receivers.
Hearing aid styles – Common hearing aid styles, Open pop-up dialogue box. Hearing aids vary a great deal in price, size, special features & the way they’re placed in your ear. The following are common hearing aid styles, beginning with the smallest, least visible in the ear. Hearing aid designers keep making smaller hearing aids to meet the demand for a hearing aid that is not very noticeable. But the smaller aids may not have the power to give you the improved hearing you may expect.
Completely in the canal (CIC) or mini CIC – A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid is moulded to fit inside your ear canal. It improves mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. It is the smallest and least visible type, is less likely to pick up wind noise, uses very small batteries, which have a shorter life and can be difficult to handle, often doesn’t include extra features, such as volume control or a directional microphone, is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker.
In the canal: An in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is custom moulded and fits partly in the ear canal. This style can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. It Is less visible in the ear than larger styles, Includes features that won’t fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but may be difficult to adjust due to its small size, Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker.
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In the ear – An in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid is custom made in two styles - one that fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear (full shell) and one that fills only the lower part (half shell). Both are helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss and are available with directional microphones (two microphones for better hearing in noise).
Behind the ear – A behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. A tube connects the hearing aid to a custom earpiece called an earmold that fits in your ear canal. This type is appropriate for people of all ages and those with almost any type of hearing loss. Traditionally has been the largest type of hearing aid, though some newer mini designs are streamlined & barely visible, Has directional microphones, Is capable of more amplification than are other styles, May pick up more wind noise than do other styles, May be available with a rechargeable battery.
Receiver in canal or receiver in the ear – The receiver-in-canal (RIC) and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) styles are similar to a behind-the-ear hearing aid with the speaker or receiver that sits in the ear canal. A tiny wire, rather than tubing, connects the piece behind the ear to the speaker or receive. Typically has a less visible behind-the-ear portion, has directional microphones, has manual control options, May be available with a rechargeable battery, Is susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker.
Open fit – An open-fit hearing aid is a variation of the behind-the-ear hearing aid with a thin tube or the receiver-in-the-canal or receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid with an open dome in the ear. This style keeps the ear canal very open, allowing for low-frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally and for high-frequency sounds to be amplified through the hearing aid. This makes the style a good choice for people with better low-frequency hearing & mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss.
An open-fit hearing aid – Is often visible, doesn’t plug the ear like the in-the-ear hearing aid styles, often making your own voice sound better to you. May be more difficult to insert into the ear due to the noncustom dome. Additional features – Some optional features of hearing aids improve your ability to hear in specific situations.
Features in hearing aids
Noise reduction – All hearing aids have some amount of noise reduction available. The amount of noise reduction varies, some also offer wind noise reduction, directional microphones. These are aligned on the hearing aid to provide for improved pick up of sounds coming from in front of you with some reduction of sounds coming from behind or beside you. Some hearing aids are capable of focusing in one direction. Directional microphones can improve your ability to hear when you’re in an environment with a lot of background noise.
Rechargeable batteries – Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries, this can make maintenance easier for you by eliminating the need to regularly change the battery.
Telecoils – Telecoils make it easier to hear when talking on a telecoil-compatible telephone. The telecoil reduces the sounds from your environment & picks up the sounds from the hearing-aid-compatible telephone. Telecoils also pick up signals from public induction loop systems that can be found in some churches & theatres allowing you to hear a speaker, play or movie better.
Wireless connectivity – Increasingly, hearing aids can wirelessly interface with certain Bluetooth-compatible devices, such as cellphones, music players, computers and televisions. You may need to use an intermediary device to pick up the phone or other signal & send it to the hearing aid.
Things to check when you are buying a hearing aid
Ask about a trial period – You can usually get a hearing aid with a trial period. It may take you a while to get used to the device & decide if it’s right for you. Has the dispenser put in writing the cost of a trial, whether this amount is credited toward the final cost of the hearing aid and how much is refundable if you return the hearing aid during the trial period?
Check for a warranty – Make sure the hearing aid includes a warranty that covers parts & labour for a specified period. Some dispensers may include office visits or professional services in the warranty.
Getting used to your hearing aid – Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. You’ll likely notice that your listening skills improve gradually as you become accustomed to amplification. Even your own voice sounds different when you wear a hearing aid.
Finally, hearing aids won’t return your hearing to normal, they can improve your hearing by amplifying soft sounds. Allow time to get used to the hearing aid. It takes time to get used to your new hearing aid, But the more you use it, the more quickly you’ll adjust to amplified sounds.
Practice using the hearing aid in different environments, your amplified hearing will sound different in different places, seek support & try to stay positive. A willingness to practice and the support of family & friends help determine your success with your new hearing aid. You may also consider joining a support group for people who have hearing loss or are new to hearing aids.
Go back for a follow-up – Specialists may include the cost of one or more follow-up visits in their fees. It’s a good idea to take advantage of this for any adjustments and to ensure that your new hearing aid is working for you as well as it can, your success with hearing aids will be helped by wearing them regularly and taking good care of them, in addition, an audiologist can tell you about new hearing aids & devices that become available. He or she can also help you make changes to meet your needs. The goal is that, in time, you find a hearing aid you’re comfortable with and that enhances your ability to hear and communicate. So they must consult us (hearing aid bazaar) to get the best possible hearing aid as per their individual hearing loss and profile.
