What Do You Need to Know About Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are clever little devices that can be worn on one or both ears to help improve your hearing. It's a common misconception that hearing aids are only for the elderly, as young people can also experience hearing loss and subsequently benefit from a hearing aid. 

There are several important things that you need to know about hearing aids that will assist you in making a more informed decision when choosing your ideal match. Read on to uncover more information about what hearing aids are and how they can change your life for the better. 

Hearing aids amplify sound using three simple features, starting with a small yet powerful microphone that receives an input of sound, which is then transformed into a digital signal. An adjoining amplifier will increase the strength of the digital signal produced, and a speaker then repeats this amplified sound inside your ear for clearer, louder listening. This microphone, amplifier and speaker combination is the perfect mix of technology to help those who experience hearing loss gain back some of their independence and freedom. 

So, what type of hearing aid could be of benefit to you?  

Hearing aids come in many different shapes and sizes, and it's vital that you know about these variants to identify the hearing aid that best suits your individual wants and needs. The three most popular options are inside the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC).

• An ITE hearing aid is worn inside of your ear, which means an important step of the process involves taking an inner-ear impression to make sure your hearing aid will fit perfectly without causing you any kind of pain or irritation. The size and style can be changed to match up with your skin tone to blend in better.
• A BTE hearing aid is placed on the outside of your ear with a tiny tube that sends sound straight down into your ear canal for better quality listening. They are designed to be very comfortable and easy to install, so you rarely feel their presence when you're wearing them.
• An ITC hearing aid is worn inside your ear canal, and fortunately they're bigger than any other ITE type making them easier to install and remove. Their size also means they can accommodate a range of different features as settings, too. 

No hearing aid is able to completely 'cure' hearing loss, but they will assist you in hearing much better and more clearly than you currently can. Hearing aids can be used by those who experience a variety of different conditions and symptoms: 

• Aging which leads to deterioration in ear health
• Disease inside the ear canal 
• Injury from exposure to loud noise or tinnitus 
• Hearing loss as a side effect of certain medications 
• Any other kind of damage to the ear surroundings areas (both internally and externally) 

If you believe that you or someone you love could benefit from a hearing aid, then do not hesitate to get in touch with your trusted audiologist today.