Hearing Aids – Improving Lives of Individuals with Severe Hearing Impairment

Article by Click Hearing

With advancements in technology, it has become easier to cure various ear ailments in a cost-effective manner. Several studies and researches which relate to the working and benefits of using aids have been conducted. Using best aides renders benefits such as better communication skills, excellent cognitive function, participation in social activities, thus maintaining balanced emotional states of hearing impaired individuals. Choosing the best aid depends upon the severity of their hearing impairment. As numerous people experience problems related to deafness, these technologically advanced hearing devices are helpful in boosting their self-confidence and improving their lives.

Hearing aids are small electronic devices, which are designed to be worn in or behind the ear of the hearing impaired individuals. These high-tech devices are based on innovative technology based upon amplifying or modulating the sound; thus, enabling the hearing impaired wearer to hear clearly. These devices amplify some sounds, so that a hearing impaired individual can listen, communicate, and participate more actively in daily tasks. The best hearing aides receive sound through a microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and transmits the same to an amplifier. This amplifier, fitted in the device itself, increases the power of the signals, which are transmitted to the inner ear canal.

Surpassing the conventional wired varieties, presently, an individual can choose from a wide variety of hearing aids in accordance with their specific impairments. The latest technology for hearing aid is available in numerous models of diverse dimensions and sizes. Catering to the diverse requirements of numerous individuals, digital aids are new additions to the list of these technically advanced devices. These small and inconspicuous devices have certain basic components, which convert the sound waves into numerical codes, similar to the binary code of a computer, before amplifying the same. Digital hearing aids are equipped with microphones that modulate the sounds into the ear. The amplifier placed in these devices amplifies the sound and transforms it to the inner ear. These battery operated devices are available in the market at very affordable prices.

On the other hand, Oticon aids are the 21st century aids, which are designed to be used in combination with other electronic devices available in the market. Designed to perfection, these devices operate by magnifying the sound vibrations entering the ear. Available in varied selections, the Oticon hearing aids assure an optimum clear and crisp sound level. These aids are reckoned for their excellent performance, durability and cost-effective rates.

Question by janeisadoe: What is the best kind of hearing aid that isn’t terribly expensive?
I do have a hearing loss. I have looked at the digital (very expensive) and the amplifier that goes in your ear. I don’t have any experience, and would like to hear from those who have tried different kinds to find out what is the best.

Best answer:

Answer by ZCT
It depends what you call expensive. Generally quality hearing aids are at least $ 3,000 for a pair but can be as much as $ 9,000. Remember that not all digital hearing aids are the same, they vary from brand to brand and also even within brands there are dozens of different kinds that all fall into the category of digital.

I have fitted hundreds of patients over the past 12 years. For the first six years I worked for the two largest independent hearing aid companies in the UK (I now work in the US). When there I got to fit most of the major brands and see the results. My favorite brand is Starkey/Audibel. They appear to last a long time, have very low distortion and are a huge all American company that only make hearing aids. They fitted four US presidents.

When you go and see a hearing instrument specialist you should insist on a free trial of at least 30 days, you should be concerned if (s)he doesn’t arrange for follow up appointments or lets you wear the aids home the first time. You should also be concerned if they are not equipped to fit you with a real digital hearing aid system right there on the day of the test so you can listen to it before buying. The real system will probably have to be special ordered to fit your ear, but a good dispenser should be able to rig up a real hearing aid system with disposable ear pieces so you can at least experience a real hearing aid system.

The bottom line is that if you have a real hearing loss the best way to help yourself is to bite the bullet and spend the money on a decent system. I have never yet met a patient who got any satisfaction from the kind of amplifiers that you can buy online. Most hearing loss varies from one frequency to another, so an amplifier will not correct that. It would be like buying a magnifying glass instead of a set of prescription glasses.

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