Dealing with a Disability

If you've suffered some loss of hearing, there is a good chance you can be helped by a hearing aid. Hearing aids do not reverse hearing loss, but they do increase the volume of life around you, so that it is easier to hear. The purchase of a hearing aid will help in dealing with this disability.  Hearing aids come in several basic styles, and the technology used is improving daily, so you owe it to yourself to find out what's available.

Hearing loss, by the way, has become extremely common, with road noises and loud music being daily occurrences for many of us. Even young people are losing their hearing because of damage caused by cranking up the music.

The largest, and generally cheapest form of hearing aid is the kind that fits behind the ear, sometimes called a BTE. These have a component that fits in the ear and attaches to the device itself, which fits behind the ear. These can be a problem for people who wear glasses, but they are helpful for those who have poor dexterity because the larger size makes them easier to handle. They can be the most appropriate style for children who need help hearing.

The next smaller size is the "in the ear" hearing aid, or ITE. These are versatile and easy to handle. They offer certain options, such as a switch for talking on the telephone. They are capable of a wide range of levels of amplification.

Less visible than the ITE is a style called an ITC, for "in the canal." These small hearing aids fit up in the ear canal. They are suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. Each smaller size of hearing aid costs a bit more than the larger ones because the technology is more intricate. The very smallest and highest tech hearing aids are called CIC's or "completely in the canal."

There is also a type of hearing aid that is still somewhat experimental in the U.S. It is surgically attached to the bones in the ear. This type of hearing aid is called a cochlear implant. It helps you hear sounds through bone conduction instead of just through the air.

Another breakthrough in hearing aid technology is that of the digital hearing aid. Through digital technology, a hearing aid can be programmed to fit the exact pattern of hearing loss suffered by the wearer. Most people with hearing loss don't suffer the same level of loss across the different pitches of sound. Without digital technology, a hearing aid simply turns up all the sound the same amount. The digital hearing aid can be programmed to just turn up the types of sounds needed. They can be very helpful for people who use their hearing in their work, such as musicians.

Another development in hearing aids is that of the disposable hearing aid. These are soft plastic devices that don't have to be individually fitted to the ear and that last for about 40 days before needing to be replaced. Batteries are not replaced. The hearing instrument is simply thrown away when it no longer works.

The choice of a hearing aid depends on your situation. A doctor can help you decide on the options you need for the very best experience you can have with improved hearing through the use of a hearing aid.