| Hearing Aids FAQ |
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What is a hearing aid? Basically, a hearing aid is a miniature microphone, amplifier and speaker, all together in one unit that fits into or behind your ear. It works the same way a public address system works: the microphone receives sounds and converts them into electrical signals; the amplifier increases their power and the speaker converts them back into sound. It’s all powered by a small, replaceable battery. Who can benefit from hearing aids? Generally, hearing aids are most helpful for people who have hearing loss because of damage to the “hair cells” – small cells of the inner ear. Hair cells can be damaged by disease, aging or injury. Exposure to loud noise and certain medications are among the causes or hair cell injuries. How do I find out if a hearing aid will help me? An otologist can determine the extent and type of your hearing loss, and determine whether a hearing aid will be beneficial in your case. Will a hearing aid return my hearing to normal? Probably not, at least at first. The volume may be the same as in “normal” hearing, but there will be a different quality to the sound. But you’ll get used to it. If you wear eyeglasses, you may recall that at first you were aware of the distortion from the lenses and of the rims around the lenses being in your range of vision. But your brain quickly adjusted so you didn’t notice those things. Most people get used to the sound from hearing aids the same way. The more often you wear your hearing aid, the more quickly you will be likely to adjust. Are all hearing aids the same? No. There are analog and digital hearing aids, with different kinds of electronics. Analog aids are generally less expensive, and the user can adjust them for different situations – for example, the user may set the aid differently for a restaurant than for a movie theater. Digital aids can be specifically programmed by your otologist to your specific needs; for example, they can be made to amplify certain frequencies more than others, if your hearing loss is worse in some ranges than in others. In general, digital aids offer a better quality sound and a more natural hearing experience than analog aids. What about the part of the hearing aid that’s outside the ear? Are there different types? Yes, there three basic types, each best for a particular type of patient. Any of the types can be used with analog or digital electronics. Behind-the-ear hearing aids, or BTEs, have the electronics hidden in a plastic case behind the outer ear. The sound travels through a tube around the ear and into a speaker in a molded plastic piece that fits into the ear. There’s also a relatively new kind of BTE aid that carries the sound through the tube to a tiny receiver the inner ear, so the ear is not plugged up by the molded piece. That’s better for people who have a problem with ear wax buildup. Besides, some people just like the feel better, and some like the fact that the sound of their own voice doesn’t have a distorted sound that a blocked ear causes. Other people prefer it simply because it’s less visible than a traditional BTE aid. BTEs can be used by people of all ages, with mild to severe hearing loss. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids have all the works inside one molded plastic piece that fits into the outer ear. They work for everything from mild to severe hearing loss. They’re usually not good for children, because the shape of a child’s outer ear changes as he or she grows, so the molded piece needs frequent replacing. Canal aids have the advantage of being the least visible. There are some are made to fit the shape of a particular person’s inner ear, and others that fit almost completely into the ear canal. The downside is that they’re hard to adjust and remove, and their small size makes them less effective for people with severe hearing loss. How much do hearing aids cost? There are many variables, so the price range is great – from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. You might expect to pay maybe $200 to $1,000 for an analog aid, and maybe $800 to $,2000 for a digital aid. (Those prices are just rough ranges; more expensive aids of both types are not uncommon.) So should I get the most expensive kind I can afford? Absolutely not. Price is one variable among many. Your otologist can help you pick the one that will be best for your hearing loss, your age and your lifestyle. I have hearing loss in both ears. Do I need two hearing aids? It’s usually a good idea. The sound you hear will be more natural. More importantly, though, you’ll be better able to discern subtleties of sound, especially the direction a sound is coming from. What are implantable hearing aids? They’re hearing aids that are surgically implanted. One kind is a device that is attached directly to the tiny bones of the inner ear and causes those bones to vibrate against the cochlea, which is what they’re supposed to naturally. Another type attaches to the bone behind the ear and sends sound directly to the inner ear. If you’re interested in implantable hearing aids, discuss them thoroughly with your otologist. All surgery has risks, and the advantages of implantable aids may not make the risk worthwhile in your case. |