Hearing Aids - Learn What Is Most Important About Using Them
By: Ralph Gilmer
Submitted: 2010-08-26 14:56:09 | Word Count: 617
By amplifying nearby sounds, hearing aids have continually brought relief to sufferers of hearing loss. It consists of a microphone, amplifier and speaker, all contained in a single small electronic instrument.
Often, hearing aids will greatly improve the life of a person who suffers from hearing loss, allowing them to be able to do everything they desire without being held back. Only a few sufferers of hearing loss however get a chance to wear such a device and benefit from them. With improvements in medical treatments around ten percent of hearing loss sufferers can benefit from medical treatments without the need for a hearing aid.
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These days there are a number of different devices that may benefit different people with different types of hearing loss. Most hearing aids can be divided into two types by how the person wears them.
There are many devices, called canal aids, which are inserted right in the ear canal where they are completely hidden. Canal aids are made or customized especially for the wearer to ensure they are comfortable. These devices are often used by patients with varying degrees of hearing loss from mild cases to some of the more severe.
Other devices fit in the outer ear and are refereed to as In the Ear devices. Although visible these hearing aids are discrete and less noticeable than the out of ear devices. These are worn by people with hearing loss ranging from mild cases to severe cases and are easier to insert and remove than canal aid devices. These devices also offer a variety of added features, including a telecoil to help patients hear telephone conversations more effectively and an easily adjustable volume control.
The category of hearing aids known as 'behind the ear' aids have an earmold that tucks in the back of the ear. The amplification is carried out in the earmold behind the ear. Behind-the-ear devices can benefit people with really severe hearing loss but are the most visible. These devices however are more likely to have problems with feedback, a high pitched whistling sound.
As well as the traditional analog devices, digital hearing aids are now available. Analog and digital audio hearing aids both have their own pros and cons associated with them.
Hearing aids that are based on analog technology work by turning sound waves into electrical signals and then amplifying them. Analog devices can be tuned to the individual needs of the patient. Analog hearing aids can often be adjusted to suit the location and differing noise levels by the person who wears it.
Digital audio technology is the more expensive of the two but does make it easier to customize the sound reproduction of the hearing aid. The digital devices can achieve a much higher quality of sound reproduction. Digital hearing aids also tend to be more comfortable and convenient, because sound levels adjust automatically as the environment changes.
Today, the hearing aids that are available provide the wearer with a much better hearing and are more comfortable to use and wear than those of the past. If you are considering the purchase of a hearing aid, it is important to talk to an audiologist about the best type of aid for your unique needs. The right device can make massive improvements to the wearer's quality of life enabling them to do more with a greater level of interaction.
