Introduction:
Deafness, also known as hearing loss, can result from exposure to loud noise and aging. It can also result from a congenital disability, ear injury, or certain medications. Other factors, like excessive earwax, can temporarily reduce the efficiency of ears in conducting sounds. Most hearing loss is reversed, but in case of permanent loss, a hearing aid helps with the hearing process.
What Is a Hearing Aid?
A hearing aid is a small electronic device that helps with hearing loss and can be worn behind the ear. This device amplifies sound so that individuals with hearing loss can fully listen, communicate and participate in daily activities. The hearing aid can help individuals more in both noisy and quiet situations. Around one in five people benefit from a hearing aid used once. It mainly consists of three parts, a microphone, amplifier, and speaker.
How Does a Hearing Aid Help Elderly People?
Hearing aids are primarily useful in speech and hearing comprehension of people who have hearing loss, and this results in damage to the small sensory cells of the inner ear and hair cells. This type of hearing loss is known as sensorineural hearing loss and mainly occurs due to underlying disease, aging, or injury from noise and certain medicines.
The aid magnifies sound vibration entering the ear. The surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them to neural signals passed to the brain. The greater damage to the individual's hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss. In cases where the inner ear is too damaged, even the larger vibrations would not convert into neural signals. In such a scenario, a hearing aid would be ineffective.
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
If individuals have hearing loss, the healthcare provider may recommend a small device called a hearing aid. This device helps with hearing loss and is worn behind the ear. This device magnifies the sound vibrations that enter the ear and helps improve speech and hearing comprehension.
-
Hearing aids, regardless of type, have three main parts: microphone, speaker, and amplifier.
-
Tiny microphones gather environmental noises. First, a computer chip with an amplifier generates digital code from the incoming sound. Next, it analyzes and modifies the sound based on hearing loss, the listening requirements, and the volume of the sounds around people. After that, speakers often referred to as receivers, transform the amplified signals into sound waves and transmit them to the ears.
What Are the Types of Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids are differentiated by their place, their special features, and how they work. The four main types of devices are:
-
Behind-The-Ear: These are also called BTE aids. They are featured by a clear tube that connects the earmold. The components are contained in the compartment that sits behind the ear. They are easy to clean and handle, and they are sturdy. BTE is recommended for children as they can replace the earmold as they grow. A type of BTE is an open-fit hearing aid; this allows ear canals to remain open as they fit behind the ear. The narrow tube in the canal is also recommended if the individuals have more earwax and are prone to buildup.
-
In-The-Ear: This type of hearing aid is slightly larger than in-the-canal. They are easy to handle and contain a shell that fills the ear's outer part. The advantages are that it is easy to install and make it easier while talking on the phone. This best works while talking on the phone for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss.
-
In-The-Canal: This device is a lightweight plastic shell that sits in the canal. They are very comfortable and easy to use. They are customized and fit the size and shape of the ear. They work for mild to severe hearing loss but are not recommended for profound hearing loss.
-
Receiver-In-Canal: This type is where the receiver sits inside the canal, the tube is nearly visible, and the receiver is small. They are smaller than BTE and appropriate for mild to moderate loss.
How to Choose the Right Hearing Device for Elderly People?
Choosing the best hearing device consists of keeping some points in mind. They are:
-
Customizing Hearing Device: Taking a mold of the size and shape of the individual's ear canal can help in fitting the exact size and shape of the individual's ear. This customized acoustic fit is achieved by programming the best volume, intensity levels, frequencies, noise reduction, power output, and more to suit specific hearing needs.
-
Small Size Is a Big Deal: The discreet, behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used by many people and blend in with their hair to make them difficult to spot. Moreover, totally in-canal hearing aids are currently so small they cannot be seen after they are in the ear.
-
Opt for an Open-Fit Hearing Aid: Open-fit hearing aid is increasingly popular with mild to moderate hearing loss.
-
Rechargeable Models Are Revolutionary: Like phone chargers freed from cords, recharging technology liberates hearing aid users from the endless job of changing tiny button batteries.
-
Smartphone Capability: Nowadays, most individuals use smartphones, so the advantage of wireless technology is used if the hearing aid has smartphone compatibility.
-
Telecoil Technology: An aid with telecoil, a loop in public sound systems extends listening range, improves listening comprehension, and eliminates unwanted background noise.
-
Mic Up: The remote microphone is a handy accessory for optimizing sound. These devices may be free-standing and can be worn on the lapel.
-
Give Time for New Technology: Adjusting to the new hearing process requires time. A hearing aid user will typically not like the device for the first week. After that, the individual will get used to it.
-
Try Different Models if Necessary: Different types of fit and model can be tried.
Conclusion:
A detailed conversation with the audiologist may guide an individual in choosing the best hearing aid. Success with a hearing aid is achieved by wearing them regularly and taking care of them. Then, changes in option selection can be made to meet the needs. Finding a hearing aid that is more comfortable and enhances the ability to hear and communicate requires time.
