Many types of hearing aids exist. So which is best for you? Find out what to consider when choosing a hearing aid.
Perhaps you've thought about getting a hearing aid, but you're worried about how it will look and wonder whether it will really help. Knowing more about the hearing aid options available to you, what to look for when buying them and how to break them in may help alleviate some of your concerns.
The basics: What all hearing aids have in common
Many different hearing aids are available, and the varieties can overwhelm you. All hearing aids need certain parts to carry sound from the environment into your ear, including:
- A microphone. The microphone picks up the sound.
- An amplifier. This increases the volume of the sound.
- A receiver. The receiver sends the sound into your ear so that you can hear it.
- A battery. The battery provides power to the electronic parts.
All hearing aids work by collecting sounds from the environment via a microphone, amplifying the sound and then directing this amplified signal into your ear via a loudspeaker. The amplified signal stimulates your inner ear, which activates nerve fibers that carry the sound impulses to your brain.
How hearing aids differ
You have many types to choose from when selecting a hearing aid. The models vary based on the shape of the hearing aid, the type of electronics found inside and any accessories you choose.
Hearing aid styles
Hearing aids come in various styles, which differ in size and the way they're placed in your ear. Some are small enough to fit deeply inside your ear canal, making them almost invisible. Others fit partially in your ear canal. Generally, the smaller a hearing aid is, the less powerful it is, the shorter its battery life and the more it will cost.
With so many styles to choose from, keep in mind that your choice shouldn't be based on looks alone. The style that's right for you should be based on what helps you hear the best.
Common hearing aid styles include:
- Completely in the canal. The aids are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. Though these hearing aids are the smallest and least visible of the available styles, the small style can also be a disadvantage. Completely-in-the-canal aids have little space for add-ons, such as volume controls and directional microphones. Also, the batteries are smaller, so battery life may be shorter.
- In the canal. An in-the-canal hearing aid fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. In-the-canal aids can accommodate mild to moderately severe hearing loss in adults. This style may contain features that won't fit on completely-in-the-canal aids. However, the small size can make in-the-canal hearing aids difficult to adjust.
- In the ear. An in-the-ear style of hearing aid fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss. In-the-ear aids are more visible to others and may be more vulnerable to picking up wind noise. But the larger size makes in-the-ear aids easier to adjust and insert.
- Behind the ear. Behind-the-ear hearing aids include a component that rests behind your ear. This component conducts sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages. Behind-the-ear aids are the largest, most visible type of hearing aid, though some new versions are smaller, streamlined and barely visible. Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be the most powerful and often the most easily adjustable type.
Before you make a purchase: Follow these tips
When looking for a hearing aid, explore your options to understand what type of hearing aid will work best for you. Also:
- Get a checkup. See your doctor to rule out correctable causes of hearing loss, such as earwax, an infection or a tumor, and have your hearing tested by a hearing specialist (audiologist).
- Seek a referral to a reputable audiologist. If you don't know one, ask your doctor for a referral. A good audiologist works with you to find a hearing aid that best fits your needs and desires. This person takes an impression of your ear canal, chooses the most appropriate aid and adjusts the device to fit well. Be cautious of free consultations and people who sell only one brand of hearing aid.
- Ask about a trial period. A hearing aid should come with an adaptation period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it's useful. Have the seller put in writing the cost of a trial and whether this amount is credited toward the final cost of the hearing aid.
- Check for a warranty. Make sure the hearing aid includes a warranty that covers both parts and labor for a specified amount of time.
- Beware of misleading claims. Hearing aids can't restore normal hearing or eliminate all background noise. Beware of advertisements or salespeople who claim otherwise.
Breaking in your hearing aid
Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. The sound you hear is different because it's amplified. Even your own voice sounds strange when you wear a hearing aid.
When you first get your hearing aid, start slowly by listening to the radio or TV in a quiet room. This will give you an idea of how well the device can help you. Then move on to more-challenging environments. Starting off in a loud restaurant, for instance, can be frustrating and confusing.
You may find in some situations that it's best just to remove your hearing aid. When background noise is very loud, hearing aids can be more annoying than useful.
If standard options aren't helping: Try implantable hearing aids
If your hearing loss is more severe, standard hearing aids may not work for you. You might consider an implantable or bone conduction hearing aid. These devices work by vibrating your middle ear bones directly to stimulate your inner ear and conduct sound.
Implantable hearing aids are put in place during an outpatient surgical procedure that lasts from 30 minutes to two hours. A tiny electromagnet is attached to the bones of your middle ear, and an external unit that stimulates that magnet is placed behind your ear. A wire connects the two parts.
These relatively new devices are reported to produce a clearer, more natural sound, though research has yet to confirm this. But implantable aids can cost several thousand dollars and require surgery. If you have any questions about implantable hearing aids, discuss your options thoroughly with your audiologist or ear surgeon.
In situations of severe to profound nerve deafness, cochlear implants — which help compensate for damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear — also can improve hearing. Cochlear implants have improved in the last several years. If your hearing loss is so severe that conventional hearing aids can't help you, you may be a candidate for a cochlear implant. Talk to your audiologist about this option.
Still reluctant?
Many people with hearing loss aren't interested in hearing aids. You might think a hearing aid will make you look older or change how strangers interact with you. Some people might think they get by just fine using visual cues to make up for their loss of hearing.
Be honest with yourself. Wearing a hearing aid is much less noticeable than constantly asking people to repeat themselves or responding to a question with an unrelated answer.
The truth is that a well-fitted hearing aid can greatly enhance your ability to interact with others. They can minimize many problems that go along with hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding conversations or hearing timers and beepers. And they can help combat feelings of social isolation.
If your hearing loss affects your ability to communicate with others or makes you feel self conscious, it may be time to consider a hearing aid. Though it may be awkward at first, over time you'll adjust to the device and enjoy your enhanced ability to hear and communicate in a variety of situations. By wearing your hearing aid regularly and taking good care of it, you'll likely notice significant improvements in your quality of life.
Last Updated: 03/31/2005
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