Why Is There No Cure for Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is ringing or buzzing in the ears. Many people who experience
Hearing Aid Technology
Hearing aids give you the opportunity to hear when you no longer can. Surprisingly, hearing loss can be experienced by anyone due to a disease, age, an injury, or even because of certain medications. So many people wear hearing aids and yet most people do not know how they work. Hearing aid technology has come an incredibly long way from the first devices created.
There are many different types of hearing aids, but all of them have a microphone, amplifier, receiver and a battery.
- The microphone picks up the surrounding sounds and converts them into electrical signals.
- The amplifier’s job is to pick up the electrical signals transmitted by the microphone and amplify them. Thus, the amplifier works to intensify the signals.
- The receiver then switches these signals back into sound and sends them to the brain so they could be comprehended.
- The battery allows the hearing aid to function. Larger hearing aids typically have a longer battery life and are easier to replace because of size.
- Microchips are found in digital hearing aids. The Digital hearing aids are usually more flexible and adjustable compared to analog hearing aids.
Types of hearing aids
The type of hearing aid you should use depends on preference and the severity of your hearing loss.
While analog hearing aids were popular in the past, most hearing aid manufacturers are now producing digital devices. In terms of digital devices, you’ll have your choice of: behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE) or receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids. Each type of hearing aid helps people deal with hearing loss, but you should get a hearing aid depending on how severe your condition is. Some hearing aids are more powerful and small, while others offer volume control and choice of manual options.
As with most things, there are pros and cons to any hearing aid you choose to go for; however, wearing a hearing aid makes a big difference in the quality of hearing and your life!
1. BTE hearing aids
BTE hearing aids can rest on the top of the outer ear or behind the ear. They come in various colors ranging from skin and hair color to colors that stand out completely. Behind-the-ear hearing aids are so powerful that those with severe hearing loss can benefit from them.
2. ITE hearing aids
ITE hearing aids rest inside of your ear. These hearing aids are comfortable, have a longer battery life and come with different buttons for volume and features because of how small they are.
3. RIC hearing aids
RIC hearing aids rest deep inside your ear, inside the ear canal. These are the smallest hearing aids available and are not seen from the outside, offering the advantage of being invisible. RIC hearing aids offer the advantage of being almost invisible; however, they can be easily damaged since they are always exposed to earwax.
Hearing aids have come a long way since they were first introduced more than a century ago. They have become more discreet, less bulky and more efficient. Depending on the technology of the hearing aids, there will be a number of features and settings to choose from. With all of the options available, choosing a hearing aid that would be the best fit for you may be a difficult task but definitely worth it. However, before choosing which hearing aid is best for you, consult your audiologist.
