A Look at the Latest Hearing Aid Technology

When you think “hearing aid,” does it conjure up an image of a bulky appliance tucked behind the ear?

Well, those days are over.

These days, hearing aids are pretty impressive. They’re basically tiny computers, weighing fewer than 2 grams and they impersonate a series of complex and delicate body parts.

Yes, they provide the benefit of improving speech comprehension for those with a hearing loss. But they have also been shown to boost mood and benefit health.

Digital technology has created a whole new breed of hearing aids.

Today’s hearing aids are small. Nearly invisible, in some cases.

Most contain a microcomputer that is better adapted to respond to noise in the environment so you can forget about the feedback and echoes.

New hearing aids filter out background noise, and they clean up and clarify the sound quality. They also automatically adjust the volume.

One of the biggest improvements has been the directional microphone.

While directional mics don’t fit into the tiniest hearing aids that nestle hidden in the ear canal, they do offer more satisfaction with your hearing. And being able to hear better in a noisy environment is the number one concern for people with hearing loss.

Another benefit of these newer hearing aids?

They’re computer-programmed to match the nuances of needs of each person’s hearing loss. And this is important because there’s more than one type of hearing loss.

Sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss is the most common form of hearing loss. It affects one in four people over 65. This type of hearing loss is a result of something like noise, illness, injury, or infection damaging either the auditory nerve that controls hearing or the hair cells in the ear that help transmit sound.

Conductive hearing loss is less common and can be the result of earwax buildup, fluid buildup from an ear infection, or a punctured eardrum.

It is possible to have either of these, or a mixture of them.

With medical or surgical treatment, conductive hearing loss can often be corrected. Sensorineural hearing loss usually cannot be reversed though. And this is why hearing aids were invented.

Are you wondering if you need a hearing aid?

You’ll first want to check in with an audiologist for a hearing test to determine what sort of hearing loss you have. A hearing instrument specialist will help you determine whether hearing aids will help and if so, which ones would benefit you most.

There are many different styles:

In-the-Ear (ITE)

These fit completely in the outer ear and are for mild to severe hearing loss. ITE aids could be damaged by earwax and ear drainage and their small size can cause problems with adjustment and feedback.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE):

These are for people with mild to profound hearing loss. They are worn behind the ear and are connected to a plastic earmold that fits inside the outer ear.

Sound travels through the earmold (which holds the circuitry) and into the ear. They can be linked with Bluetooth so the wearer can hear directly from their phone into the hearing aid.

In-the-Canal Aids (ITC):

The ITC aid is for those with mild to moderately severe hearing loss and is customized to fit the size and shape of the ear canal. Because of their small size, canal aids may be difficult for the user to adjust and remove.

Are you ready to try out one of these great new hearing aids? Schedule a screening today with a hearing instrument specialist and get back to life!