A Concise Guide to Hearing Aids

Hearing aid guides are not rare, but most are not exactly reader-friendly, either. Many are simply too lengthy or complex, adding more confusion rather than less.

My guess is that you’re a great deal less interested in the physiology of hearing or in the intricacies of acoustical engineering and more interested in locating the ideal technology at a fair price. Your objective is to hear better, not to read a 20-page manual.

If that represents you, then you’ll enjoy this short guide to hearing aids. We’ll cover four small sections, and when we’re done, you’ll be set to work with your hearing care professional to find the technology that’s right for you. Let’s get started.

How All Digital Hearing Aids Work

Deciding on a hearing aid can seem intimidating—there are several brands and seemingly limitless considerations. But it’s really not as complicated as it seems. As you move on through this guide, bear in mind that all digital hearing aids function generally the same way, and consist of these four basic parts:

The microphone picks up external sound and transmits it to the digital processor.

The digital processor adjusts the sound signal based on the settings programmed by the hearing specialist. The revised sound signal is then sent to the amplifier.

The amplifier increases the volume of the sound based on the programmed settings, amplifying only the frequencies the individual has difficulty hearing (while suppressing background noise). This signal is next sent to the speaker.

The speaker presents the magnified sound to the ear, producing louder, clearer sound.

In addition, all hearing aids include a battery, volume and setting buttons, and remote controls.

Hearing aids really only differ in two essential ways: 1) style, and 2) advanced features. We’ll address these in the next two sections.

Hearing Aid Styles

You have your choice of three primary styles:

1. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids hook over the top of the ear and rest behind the ear. The case is then linked to an earmold in the ear canal by a piece of clear tubing. BTE hearing aids are convenient to handle and clean, typically have an extended battery life, and can accommodate severe hearing loss.

2. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids occupy the external part of the ear with a custom-molded shell. ITE hearing aids are smaller than the behind-the-ear hearing aids but bigger than the in-the-canal styles. This renders ITE hearing aids easier to handle than the smaller styles but less conspicuous than the BTE style.

3. In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids fit partly or completely inside of the ear canal, which makes them almost or entirely invisible. ITC and CIC hearing aids are custom molded to the shapes of the ear, and some types can be worn for months at a time.

When choosing a style, take into account the tradeoffs among ease of use, battery life, and concealment. Your hearing care professional will help you prioritize your preferences and pick the most appropriate style.

Hearing Aid Advanced Features and Accessories

After you’ve selected the most suitable style, you can decide which of the following advanced features you need—and which you don’t.

Directional microphones enable you to concentrate on the sounds and conversations directly in front of you while reducing the disruption of loud background noise.

Telecoils, or T-coils, allow you to talk on the phone while minimizing the static brought on by background noise.

Environmental noise control allows you to optimize hearing based upon your environment, for instance in a tranquil room at home versus in a busy restaurant.

Direct input to sound sources such as televisions, radios, computers, and music players allow for clear sound without background noise.

Wireless connection to mobile phones converts your hearing aids into top-quality wireless headphones. The hearing aid settings can be manipulated from the phone (or digital watch), and sound can be wirelessly streamed straight from the phone to the hearing aids.

Optional accessories include cleaning kits, storage cases, ultraviolet sanitizers, battery-changers, and more. Your hearing care professional can help you decide which you may need or want.

Choosing the Right Hearing Aids

Before investing in hearing aids, take these four steps:

Find a reputable, local hearing care professional. Only professionals with adequate experience can test your hearing accurately, which is crucial for when it comes time to program, fit, and calibrate your hearing aids.

Focus on hearing aid styles and advanced features. Your selection of hearing aids will hinge on your preference of style and functionality. Explore these two facets with your hearing professional and your options will come to be manageable.

Develop a budget. Some would proclaim that your hearing is priceless, but that doesn’t mean you have a limitless budget. With all of the hearing aid choices available to you, you and your hearing professional can find the right hearing aid at an acceptable price.

Try out your new hearing aids. Ask about trial periods and test out your new hearing aids. Work with your hearing specialist to establish sensible expectations and give your hearing aids a chance to perform well. Your perseverance will be paid back when you recognize the difference better hearing will make in your life.

And that’s it. What appears to be a complicated process is in truth easily manageable, once you know how to prioritize your needs and narrow your choices. With the assistance of your local hearing care professional, you can discover the most appropriate technology at the right price—so you can start making the most of all of the perks of better hearing.

Just as hearing loss is known as the invisible disability, sound is known as the invisible threat. Without even being alert to it, the sounds we expose ourselves to could be initiating permanent hearing loss that accumulates irreversibly over the years.

Who’s at risk for hearing loss?

A regular conversation registers at a volume of around 60 decibels. City traffic registers at about 80, a rock concert at 100, a sporting event at 105, a power saw at 110, and a shotgun blast at an earsplitting 145.

Here’s the concern: repetitive exposure to any sound above 85 decibels can induce irreversible hearing loss. That’s the reason why hearing protection is specifically critical for musicians, concert-goers, hunters, and construction workers.

But it’s not as simple as just circumventing the sound. Most of us are unwilling to quit our careers or go without attending concerts just to assure that we can hear better when we grow old. The only solution is a compromise: protecting our hearing by decreasing the volume of the sounds we’re subjected to. Welcome to the world of earplugs.