Hearing Aid: Are You The One In Need Of It?
Many people suffer from hearing problems. Hearing impairment, in fact, is a common ailment among old people or those whose internal ear has been injured and/or damaged. Hearing aid is the most common solution to this problem. They can be either worn externally or implanted surgically in the ear. The former is the cheaper and more common alternative. First invented by Harvey Fletcher, the earliest hearing aids were relatively big in size and rather difficult to carry.
In the present day, a sophisticated range of hearing aids are being made by companies like Siemens, Rexton, Starkey, Phonak, Widex, and Beltron. Specialized hearing aids for children are also being made. All these hearing aids have three important parts. It comprises a microphone to receive and convert sound waves, an amplifier to increase the power of electric signal received, and a speaker through which sound is directed to the ear.
Types of hearing aids
There are basically three main types of hearing aids which can be worn externally. The most common is the behind the ear (BTE) aids. These aids come with the wires encased in a semi circular hard plastic cover which can be worn behind the ear. The sound is delivered to the ear with the help of ear mold made of soft plastic which can fit inside an individual's ear. Available in a variety of colors they are most suitable for children and adults alike. These BTE aids have been technically improved in the recent years with the use of thinner and invisible sound tubes. These are called open fit hearing aid. In the ear aids (ITE) can be very well be fitted in the outer ear bowl, and is generally less visible than BTE aids. Made of both hard and soft plastic, these aids fit inside the outer ear and greatly reduce the 'acoustic feedback' problem. These types of aids may also come fitted with additional features, like telecoil, which makes telephonic conversations simpler. In the canal ( ITC ) aids can fit completely inside the ear canal, and are mostly of two types, namely, mini canal aids and completely in the canal aids. Both are made to fit according to the shape of a person's ear. The Bone Anchored Hearing Aids or BAHA can be surgically implanted. It is advisable only for those who are unilaterally impaired. A cochlear implant is the only solution for bilateral deafness. This is, however, quite expensive and therefore less popular. While selecting a hearing aid, it is essential to study the benefits and costs comparison. Different types of hearing aids are meant for varying degrees of deafness. Some use analog technology, while others use digital signals. So it is rather important to select the right hearing instrument. A hearing aid can be very difficult to wear and maintain. New technology has greatly reduced the size and weight of these aids and made them almost invisible to other people.
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