Hearing Aids With Advanced Technology

Posted on March 1 2010 by Ava Rodriguez

We go get glasses when our eyesight gets bad. We call the dentist when we have a toothache. When we break a bone, we visit the doctor for a cast.

When we don’t hear as well as we use to, we crank up the TV so loud all the neighbors know what we’re watching from their own homes, and we don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Why is there such a stigma against hearing aids? The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that hearing loss is found in over 28 million people.

Hearing aids are available that will assist in improving the hearing of people of most hearing impairments. It is true that the old versions of hearing aids required a lot of wires, were awkward, and were only occasionally reliable. However, over the past five years they have started using the same technology that computers use.

Audiologist are now able to adjust the a hearing aid, because the new digital ones use state of the art microphones, receivers, batteries and a computer chips. Newer hearing aids have become smaller and much more discreet, and are programmed to precisely compensate for each individual’s loss of hearing issues.

You won’t find a hearing aid that exactly matches yours. Some individuals will suffer the loss of ability to hear high-end frequencies while others become unable to detect low-end ones. Sounds such as vowels are on the low-end level and consonants on the high-end, because of this people with hearing loss often are unable to hear certain words and are left having to guess at what was said.

Still other people have a problem with volume. Due to the fact that most sounds register softly, televisions and radios are constantly being turned up and others are continuously asked to repeat what they said.

An audiologist can administer hearing tests and determine just how the hearing aid needs to be programmed. After a person has been found to be suffering hearing loss it’s suggested that they be re-tested each year. There are 3 kinds of hearing specialists. Doctors who are able to diagnose and then treat whatever medical reasons there are for loss of hearing are otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat doctors.

An audiologist must have a master’s degree and carry a license issued by the state where he/she is practicing. You also have hearing aid dispensers who must be certified by the state, but do not have the level of education an audiologist has. Similar to salespeople, they focus on trying to sell a certain brand of hearing aids. Remember, they do not have as high a level of education as an audiologist, but need to be state certified.

At this point there are four kinds of hearing aids. The ones referred to as “completely in the canal” are the smallest and almost invisible. These of course are usually the most expensive, they are also not as effective for severe loss of hearing.

Then there are the “in the canal” devices. These are slightly larger than the last category, but are still small enough to be nestled deep in the ear canal. These canal hearing aids require a slightly bigger battery, and are recommended for a mild to moderate case of hearing loss.

The “in the ear” type devices are visible from the outside of the ear and are used for a wide variety of hearing problems. “behind the ear” hearing aids just go behind the ear, but they’re large, and need a huge battery; however, they are the most effective at noise amplification. You can get analog hearing aids for much less than these, but they don’t work as well.

Now let’s discuss some little known facts on hearing loss. There are several other facts you should know about hearing. Most hearing loss or impairment happens due to some sort of obstruction, disease, or an injury to one or several parts of an ear. For about 95 percent of those dealing with loss of hearing, the newer hearing aids are capable of correcting that hearing loss.

Interesting, the hearing loss problem is rising among the younger generations. As a matter of fact people ages 18-44 years have had a 17% increase in hearing loss in the years from 1971-1990. Temporary hearing loss is usually caused by otitis media. This condition is suffered by 70% of all infants and young children.

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