How Your Hearing Instrument Specialist Can Help with Hearing Aid Selection

Statistics stagger at over 48 million Americans having some hearing loss degree. You may wonder about the next step to take, but hearing aids dramatically improve hearing.

Here are some facts when using hearing aids:

• It can’t restore your full hearing.
• The hearing aid improves your hearing ability
• It boosts your life – no more asking colleagues to pardon points during a meeting or turn the radio or TV volume up.

Even though there are various hearing aids, you must consult your specialist for the right selection. Keep reading to know of the available hearing aids and the right choice for you!

A hearing aid – what does it mean?

If you find yourself not hearing correctly, a small device known as a hearing aid will be recommended for use. You can wear it in the ear or behind the ear, provided it serves the hearing purpose.

The device amplifies the sound vibrations incoming to the ear to improve your hearing and speech comprehension. The hearing aids has three parts:

• Microphone
• Amplifier
• Speaker

When the sound gets into the microphone, it converts to signals, which then goes to the amplifier to increase the power signal. Once the process is complete, the sound is sent back to the ear via the speaker.

Types of hearing aids

Talking of the aids, they distinguish by ear location, the unique features, and how they work. The primary ones include:

In the ear (ITE)

These are some of the most accessible hearing aids hearing aids to handle. The device has its parts enclosed in a shell filling the outer side of the ear. The device installs a telecoil allowing you to get sound via the circuitry. Unlike when sound passes through the microphone, ITE gives its users an easy time when hearing over the phone.

To get the best out of the device, you should use it appropriately as directed by the hearing instrument specialist ranging from mild-to-severe hearing loss.

Behind the ear (BTE)

While your specialist will guide you on the best aid, the BTE style serves people with hearing loss in the mild to profound stages. You’ll have the aid resting behind the ear, having a tube connecting with the earmold.

The device has three parts – battery section, microphone and control sitting on the ear. The BTEs are recommended for children who can later replace the ear molds as they grow. Besides, they are easy to handle and clean.

BTE remains a choice of people who have earwax building up quickly. You will place it on the ear with the tube only going into the canal.

In the canal (ITC)

Apart from the other hearing aids styles, ITC comprises a plastic shell sitting inside the canal. With the correct ear size specifications, the device will fit perfectly with the shape of your ear. Though ITC is easy to use, you might find it hard to use if you’re not used to small hearing aids. They are recommended for people having moderate or severe hearing loss.

From the various styles and types of hearing aids, first, seek your hearing instrument specialist’s advice. Their opinion will guide you towards the best device to use. Besides, you’ll be guided on how to handle the device, as well as maintenance.