Hearing Aid

Hearing Aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. Hearing aids are classified as medical devices in most countries, and regulated by the respective regulations.

Types of Hearing Aids

There are several types of hearing aids (BTE, ITE, ITC, CIC, RIC, RITE, BAHA, CROS, BI-CROS, PSAP, Hearing Aid for iPhone) which vary in size, power and circuitry. Among the different types of hearing aids, some are designed to sit behind the ear while others fit inside the ear canal, completely or partially.

How Hearing Aids Work

Hearing aids use the same basic parts to carry sounds from the environment into your ear and make them louder. Most hearing aids are digital, and all are powered with a hearing aid battery. Small microphones collect sounds from the environment. A computer chip with an amplifier converts the incoming sound into digital code. It analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers.

Benefits of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss that results from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. The damage can occur as a result of disease, aging, or injury from noise or certain medicines.

Limitations and Risks

Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing. They can improve your hearing by amplifying soft sounds, helping you hear sounds that you've had trouble hearing. However, they do not eliminate background noise.

See Also

• Audiology
• Hearing Loss
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss
• Conductive Hearing Loss

References

Hearing Aid Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia