How Hearing Aids Work
What You Need to Know:
- Hearing aids improve lives. The vast majority of people with hearing loss, upwards of 95%, can see emotional, physical, and personal benefits from wearing a hearing aid.
- Technology and aftercare vary greatly by brand, but most hearing aids share the same standard components.
Hearing Aids: Real Benefits
You do not have to live in a world filled with anxiety, frustration and isolation. Hearing aids offer real benefits in terms of quality of life and customer satisfaction.
According to Hearing Your World1
- Hearing-impaired adults who use hearing aids report significant improvements in many areas of their lives – from relationships at home and a sense of independence to their social and sex life – according to a recent study.
- Hearing aid users are less likely to experience feelings of sadness or depression. The study indicates that hearing aid users experienced these feelings 50% less often than non-users.
- Hearing aid users were 50% less likely to experience long periods (more than a month) of anxiety and tension, as compared to seniors with untreated hearing loss.
- Hearing aid users reported a 30% increase in social activities.
Hearing Aid Components:
Hearing aids are electronic devices used to make sounds more audible for people with hearing loss. They use a microphone to pick up sound and an amplifier to increase the volume of those sounds Most models consist of five basic parts:
- Microphone: Picks up external sound and turns it into an electrical signal
- Amplifier: Takes the signal from the microphone and increases its volume
- Speaker / Receiver: Converts the amplified signal into what you ‘hear’ from the aid
- Battery: Power source for hearing aid. Some batteries are built into the ear piece of an aid, while others are externally worn behind the ear or on the body.
- Volume Control / Power Control: Manual control of the power and volume of your device. New models offer this feature via remote control
Two Ears or One?
We have two ears for a reason – so although some people could get by with just one hearing aid, it is much preferred to have both ears with the same hearing capability. If there is a hearing loss in both ears, both ears should always be aided.
With two hearing aids, you’ll be able to:
- Better locate the source of sounds and hear from all directions
- Understand speech and conversation significantly better
- Enjoy a more natural, pleasant listening experience
- Reduce the risk of feedback
- Mask tinnitus or ringing in your ears
Still, sometimes two hearing aids may not be necessary. Hearing test results and personal needs must be taken into account. Your audiologist or hearing aid consultant will help you decide what is best for you.
