If you have a deafness problem, the good news is that you can remedy it with hearing aids. There are different types around, so you just have to find out which one is ideal for you.
But what is a hearing aid? It is simply an instrument that amplifies sound. Since everyone’s hearing loss is different, it has to be manually configured to detect all levels of sound pitch.
Here, we will talk about 4 types of hearing aids. They are: completely in the ear canal instruments, in the ear canal instruments, in the ear instruments, behind the ear, open or out of ear hearing aids and bone fixed hearing aids.
The completely in the ear canal instrument or CIC is considered the best instrument because it is so small that no one will notice you are wearing it. Each one is custom made, which is designed for people who suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss.
Next is the in-canal instrument or ITC. this instrument is larger because it has to occupy the entire ear canal. It is very flexible and can be used for a wide range of hearing needs.
Then comes the in-the-ear instrument or ITE. it usually fits in the cradle position of the ear, just like the ITC, and can handle a wide range of hearing needs. It is a little larger than the ITC and is also customized to the shape of the patient’s ear.
The behind-the-ear style is placed behind the ear and attached with a plastic ear mold that fits over the outer ear. This is only for people with mild to severe hearing loss.
You can also choose an “open” or “out-of-the-ear” hearing aid. This is a small plastic case placed behind the ear with a clear tube leading into the ear canal and a mold inside to hold it in place. This new design helps reduce the occlusion effect seen in other models.
Finally, there is the bone-fixed hearing aid. Similar to a cochlear implant, the patient must undergo surgery in order to use the skull as a conduit for sound to be transmitted to the inner ear. If the patient has a conductive loss, the BAHA bypasses the outer ear canal and middle ear to stimulate the cochlea, which is functioning normally.
Should people with hearing problems wear hearing aids? Children under the age of seven do not need them because their ears are still growing, so it would be too costly to make another one to fit the patient. This is also not recommended for safety reasons, as hearing aids are made of hard plastic and can be damaged by children playing with them, which can also cause damage to the child’s ear canal.
There was a time when deaf people had to put their hands behind their ears to hear each other speak. Before hearing aids were invented, the little speaker in the ear soon came along. The only problem was that it was too big, which was usually worn on the chest or body. Fortunately, technology has made it smaller so that no one will even notice you are wearing it until they get close.