Hearing Aids: Getting a Custom Fit
Hearing problems can be divided into 2 categories, namely conductive and “sensorineural”. An irregularity in the communication of sound to the outer or middle ear is called conductive, while an abnormality on the cochlear and auditory nerve is referred to as sensorineural. The former can be helped with the use of analog hearing aids which basically amplifies sound. The latter fixes the problem of sound processing, and use of digital hearing aids gets the job done.
Common hearing aids use analog technology and they generally come as either conventional or programmable types. Both use the principle of sound amplification by magnifying sound waves. Conventional aids come with a regular volume control for increasing or decreasing sound. While programmable aids basically do the same thing, they have extra features that allow exact fine-tuning and adjusting to an individual’s specific needs.
Digital hearing aids have digital circuitry and provide crisp and clear sound. They are programmed based on your unique hearing loss. Its circuitry performs millions of complex calculations in a snap to enable digital processing of sound, canceling noise, feedback and distortion. It converts gathered sound into digital format, then processes it with digital technology and outputs it into your ear as analog sound. These instruments allow for greater flexibility and customization for patients’ different needs.
Hearing aids have taken lots of form, small or big. But they generally fall into four categories. They come as BTE (behind the ear), ITE (in the ear), ITC (in the canal), and CIC (completely in the canal). BTE’s houses its microphone and amplifier in a plastic casing that fits behind the ear. They are mostly recommended for children because of their robustness.
ITE’s are instruments fitted just inside the outer ear. They are used in a wider range of hearing loss, usually on patients with mild to severe problems. ITC’s are fitted further into the external ear since they are smaller, and therefore almost appear concealed. They cater to patients with mild to severe hearing loss.
CIC’s, being the smallest of all hearing aids can appear to be unnoticeable and makes patients look like they are not wearing them at all. They only cater to select individuals with ear canals large enough for the instrument to be inserted and are not recommended for severe hearing problems.
Looking for the perfect match could prove to be a daunting task with so many resources on hearing aids. Product marketing and hyped-up ads even make it worse for first time buyers and they can get easily get lost in an information jungle. It is important to consider that since every patient will have different hearing loss issues, they will also need a customized instrument based on their individual needs.
One cannot base his decision by comparing the experience and review of others regarding their hearing aids. A certain model may be good for them, but that does not necessarily mean that it is good for you too. Only by taking hearing tests and proper evaluation can you truly specify what your needs are in order to choose the right device.
Visiting a doctor, an audiologist, or a hearing instrument specialist can help you in choosing from a wide range of hearing aids that’s right for you. You can find hearing tests and evaluation centers near your place or even online that will pinpoint what your needs are. Only then will you be able to make your decisionfrom the wide variety of analog and digital hearing aids.
