Hearing loss is a common problem that can occur at any age. There are many different types of hearing aids, and some use advanced technology to help people hear more effectively. One of the most common features is automatic scene analysis, which helps to figure out what environments you are in and sets the device accordingly.
What Is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is a condition that affects the way you hear sounds. It can be caused by aging, exposure to noise, or injury, or it may result from certain medications that damage your ears (ototoxic drugs).
A person’s hearing depends on three key parts of their ear: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. These sections are connected by small bones called ossicles. When sound waves enter the ear, they bounce off the ossicles and travel down to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates, sending information about the sound to the brain.
The brain interprets this data, making it sound like words. This is how we learn to read and talk.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear (cochlea) or acoustic nerve is damaged. This can result from injury, a medical condition such as meningitis, or taking certain ototoxic drugs.
This hearing loss can occur at any age and is usually permanent. Treatment can include hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Some people with hearing problems have difficulty talking to others because they find it hard to hear their voices. It would help if you also considered asking for a hearing partner to help with communication.
Getting the help, you need to improve your hearing can be a life-changing experience. It can help you understand the world around you, reduce stress, and allow you to enjoy life again.
What Are Hearing Aids?
A hearing aid like the Phonak hearing technology is a device that amplifies sound and directs it to the ear. It also helps improve communication in loud environments. However, hearing aids cannot correct underlying hearing loss, which is many people’s primary cause of hearing loss.
There are many hearing aids, ranging from tiny, invisible devices to sophisticated programmable models custom-fitted to your hearing loss. Your hearing care professional (audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist) can help you choose the right style for your unique needs and budget.
Depending on the type of hearing loss, you can get a hearing aid from the NHS. If you are looking for a more advanced hearing aid, you may need to pay out-of-pocket for treatment.
Some hearing aids sit in your outer ear bowl (concha). These are usually called in-the-canal or ITC styles and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss. They can be smaller than ITE styles but are more comfortable and larger enough to host additional features like directional microphones for better listening in noisy settings or manual controls, such as a volume wheel if desired.
Other hearing aids sit behind your ear. These are behind-the-ear (BTE) devices and can improve hearing in mild to severe hearing loss. They contain a battery compartment, a microphone, and controls and are connected to a plastic ear mold or custom earmold that delivers sound via a tube into your ear canal.
Another option for hearing loss is a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA), which is surgically implanted to transmit sound through the skull to the inner ear. This is recommended for patients with conductive hearing loss who are not candidates for conventional hearing aids or those with unilateral hearing loss (loss in only one ear).
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Getting a hearing aid is a big step in helping you communicate more effectively and enjoy life more fully. It’s also a great way to prevent further hearing loss and other health problems, like cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease.
A hearing test and consultation with a hearing care professional will determine whether you’re eligible for hearing aids. While most adults pay out-of-pocket, there are options to help you pay for your hearing device, including financing offered by your audiologist or a third party.
Once you’ve decided on a hearing device, your audiologist will program it to amplify the sounds you need to hear and reduce disruptive noises. Depending on your needs, this can include changing the sound levels, adjusting the volume, suppressing background noise, and unpleasant feedback whistling.
Modern hearing devices have several different listening programs for different situations, such as when you’re in a noisy environment or listening to music. This helps you listen more efficiently and makes it easier for you to adjust to your new devices.
What Are the Different Types of Hearing Aids?
Many types of hearing technology exist, from low-profile styles to fully in-the-ear devices. It understands what each type does and helps you make a more informed decision when choosing the best hearing aids.
There are three basic styles of hearing aids: behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), and receiver-in-canal (RIC). These hearing aids differ by size, placement on or inside your ear, and the degree to which they amplify sound.
BTEs have most components in a hard plastic case that sits behind your ear. A small plastic ear mold fits inside the outer ear, and a tube goes into your ear canal to direct sound from the hearing aid. A different style, called a Mini BTE, fits entirely behind your ear and includes a tube that goes into your ear canal to help keep earwax from building up and affecting your hearing.
ITEs are custom-molded and fit completely inside your outer ear, and they can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. They have a hard plastic case that holds all of the hearing aid components, and they may also include telecoils for use with landlines.
ITCs are smaller and less noticeable than ITEs, but they can still improve adults’ mild to severe hearing loss. They are available in various skin tones to match your outer ear and are designed to fit a wide range of ear sizes.