What You Need to Know About Hearing Aid

Updated on May 3, 2022

A hearing aid is an electronic device that assists people with hearing loss to hear. The device is placed on your eye and contains a speaker, amplifier, and microphone. A hearing aid is dispensed by a licensed hearing aid provider. If you would like to become a hearing aid provider, you need to know everything about these hearing assistants. 

How These Aids Function

Almost all hearing aids have similar essential parts that carry sound from the natural environment and amplify them in your ear. A majority of these aids are digital and powered by a rechargeable battery or a traditional battery. They contain a small microphone that collects the sounds. The sound is converted to digital code via the help of a computer chip that carries an amplifier.

The chip then adjusts this sound based on your needs and sounds around you. It converts the signals to sound waves and delivers them to your ears via receivers. Hearing aid repair is an important factor in being a provider, so it’s critical to understand how each element works.

Hearing Aid Styles

These hearing helpers vary in size, price, how they stay around the ear, among other special features. Developers of these hearing helpers strive to make smaller and smaller aids to make them invisible. However, these small hearing aids lack sufficient power to enhance your hearing. Below are the typical styles, including the least visible aid and the most miniature hearing helpers.

Mini CIC/ Completely in the canal

This hearing aid is manufactured in such a way that it fits in the ear canal. The hearing aid enhances moderate to mild hearing loss in patients. 

Features and Characteristics

  • It uses minute batteries with a shorter lifespan
  • It is the least visible and also the smallest hearing aid
  • Will not pick up wind noise
  • It does not have extra features like volume control
  • It can get clogged by earwax

In the ear

In the air aid is custom made in two diverse styles. One style could be an aid that covers the entire bowl-looking area in your ear, or the other style that only covers half this area. These two aid styles help people with severe to mild hearing loss. 

Main features

  • This hearing aid may be easier to handle 
  • Longer battery life due to a larger battery
  • Has extra features not present in smaller aids like volume control
  • Picks up more noises
  • Visible than smaller devices

In the canal

The hearing aid is made to fit in the canal partly. Its style is effective for moderate to mild hearing loss. This hearing helper:

  • Is subject to ear clogging by earwax
  • Is less visible
  • Has features that you won’t find on completely-in-the-canal aids

Behind the ear

Also referred to as BTE, this hearing aid rests behind the ear and goes over for support. A custom earpiece known as ear mold that goes into the ear canal is connected to a tube that aids in hearing. This hearing aid is ideal for any hearing predicament, and any person can use it regardless of their age.

Features

  • It was the largest hearing aid though new improvements have been made that make them appear smaller
  • It has more amplification than others
  • It may come with a rechargeable battery
  • It picks up more noise
  • Bears directional microphones

Some Additional Features

Some of these hearing aids have specific additional features that help the patients in hearing. They include:

  • Directional microphones – this feature improves the sound pickup from in front and reduces sounds beside or behind you. This hearing aid is ideal if you work in a place with lots of background noise. 
  • Noise reduction – every hearing aid has some noise reduction aid. What differs is the amount or level of noise reduction. You might come across hearing aids that even reduce wind noise. Such is very effective if you are in a windy environment.
  • Rechargeable batteries – not all hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. However, some have these rechargeable batteries, and it makes things easier for you as you will not be recharging the battery regularly. 
  • Wireless connectivity – You can connect some of the hearing aids to Bluetooth-compatible devices wirelessly. They can be connected to music players, televisions, computers, and cell phones. However, you may require an intermediary device to pick other signals or even your phone signal to convey it to the hearing helper. 
  • Telecoils – telecoils make it possible for you to hear while talking via a telecoil-compatible telephone. This feature reduces sounds from the nearby environment and amplifies the sound from the telecoil telephone. Telecoils also pick signals from public address systems such as theaters and churches, allowing you to hear better.
  • Remote controls – there are hearing aids that come with remote controls. Here you can alter and adjust its features without touching the gadget. You can also connect some of them to your mobile phone wirelessly. With an application on the phone, you can use the mobile as your remote control to control features in the hearing aid.
  • Variable programming – did you know some hearing aids have preprogrammed settings? Some of them come with programmed settings for various listening environments and needs.
  • Synchronization – some individuals with two hearing aids might have a problem if the hearing aids are not working together. The hearing aids can be synchronized to function together such that adjustments can happen on both hearing aids. You will only do it once when changing programs or volume, and the changes will occur on both aids. You do not have to make the change on each of the helping aids.

Take Away

Hearing aids are great for people suffering from hearing loss. However, it is always crucial to take care of your ears before getting to this stage. If you are already there, get the ideal hearing aids that suit your lifestyle.     

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.