The Way Hearing Aids Work

In simple terms, Hearing Aid has a built-in microphone that picks up sound and magnifies it.. The resulting ‘signals’ are then passed to a receiver, or earphone, in the hearing aid where they are converted back into sounds, that can be heard by you.

How Useful are Hearing Aids?

In simple terms, Hearing Aid has a built-in microphone that picks up sound and magnifies it.. The resulting ‘signals’ are then passed to a receiver, or earphone, in the hearing aid where they are converted back into sounds, that can be heard by you.

• The Hearing Aid makes sounds louder.
• You may be able to answer the telephone and participate in conversations more easily.
• A Hearing Aid cannot make hearing worse. However, if you do have problems, report this to your doctor.
• There are some difficulties but in most cases a Hearing Aid can bring relief to the hearing impaired, and make him or her interact with people more effectively.

Difficulties

• Most Hearing Aids produce “feedback”. This is an unnecessary whistling or squealing sound that is produced when hearing aids re amplify sounds. Some types of Hearing Aids have more of this disturbance, and some less. Sometimes a good hearing Aid with a bad fit can produce feedback.
• Hearing Aids quite often cannot give you perfect hearing. They may work more effectively in some situations than in others, depending on the type of impairment and the type of hearing aid.
• Maintenance: Careful maintenance is necessary as sweat and dust can ruin fine electronic parts.

Precautions

Influencing Factors – A Checklist

1. The type and severity of hearing loss is the most important factor.

2. Lifestyle and work place: For instance, are you in a quiet office environment, or are you more often in a space where there is a lot of background noise? Children may move in dusty environments, may expose the device to moisture and dust.

3. Maintenance: Your capability in handling the device. Are minute adjustments required? Kids might need a hardy one without too many adjustments.

4. Your ear shape and size: In the ear models/in the canal may not be suitable for all ears.

5. Some types of Hearing Aids are more visible than the others. Though marketing brochures may tout invisibility as a great selling point, the effect on appearance should be low on the priority list, especially as almost all types of Hearing Aids are shrinking in size and they can be hidden by a suitable hairstyle or attached to spectacles.