High Tech Hearing Aids

There are different types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are prevented from moving to the inner ear. This may be caused by a variety of problems including the accumulation of earwax (cerumen), infection, fluid in the middle ear (ear infection or otitis media), or a perforation of eardrum. Neurological (nerve) hearing loss develops when the auditory nerve or hair cells in the inner ear are damaged by aging, noise, illness, injury, infection, head trauma, toxic medications or an inherited condition. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both drivers and sensorineural hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss can often be corrected with medical or surgical treatment, while the sensorineural hearing loss usually can not be undone.

People with hearing loss may experience some or all of the following problems:

* Difficulty hearing conversations, especially when there is background noise.
* Zip, roaring or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
* Difficult to listen to the radio or television at a normal volume.
* Fatigue and irritation caused by the effort of listening.
* Dizziness or problems with balance.

How do I know if I have hearing loss?

If you think you might have hearing loss, visit your doctor, who can refer to an otolaryngologist or audiologist. An otolaryngologist is a physician who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders, and will investigate the cause of hearing loss. An audiologist is a hearing health professional who identifies and measures hearing loss and will conduct a hearing test to assess the type and degree of loss.

How can I help my hearing aids?

Based on the hearing test results, the audiologist can determine whether hearing aids will help. The headphones are particularly useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people with sensorineural hearing loss. When choosing a hearing aid, the audiologist will consider their hearing ability, work and home activities, physical limitations, medical conditions, cosmetics and preferences. For many people, the cost is also an important factor. You and your audiologist must decide whether one or two hearing aids will be better for you. The use of two hearing aids may help balance sounds, improve their understanding of words in noisy situations, and make it easier to locate the source of sounds.

What are the different types of hearing aids?

There are several types of hearing aids. Each type offers different advantages, depending on its design, levels of amplification and size. Before purchasing any hearing aid, ask if you have a guarantee that he will prove it. Most manufacturers allow a 30 – to 60-day trial period during which aid can be returned for a refund.

There are four basic styles of hearing aids for people with sensorineural hearing loss:

* In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids fit completely in the outer ear and are used for mild to severe hearing loss. The case, which has components, is made of hard plastic. ITE aids can accommodate added technical mechanisms such as a telephone, a small magnetic coil contained in the hearing aid that improves sound transmission during telephone calls. ITE aids can be damaged by earwax and ear drainage, and their small size can cause adjustment problems and feedback. They are not usually used by children because the casings need to be replaced as the ear grows.
* Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are used behind the ear and are connected to a plastic mold that fits inside the outer ear. The components are kept in a case behind the ear. Sound travels through the mold in the ear. BTE aids are used by people of all ages from mild to profound hearing loss. BTE poorly fitting molds can cause feedback, a whistle sound caused by adjusting the hearing aid or by accumulation of fluid or earwax.