JAN 15, 2021

Understanding Hearing Aids

WRITTEN BY: Jason Dunlap

Image Source: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/03/14/17/32/hand-287294_960_720.jpg

According to this report from the World Health Organization, more than 5% of the world’s population suffers from disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss can affect many facets of a person’s life whether it’s work, interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem. Hearings aids help those with hearing disabilities improve their quality of life. This doesn’t mean that hearing aids are the silver bullet for the hearing-impaired as not all deaf-mute people can benefit from the use of hearing aids. Some people prefer to take supplements like Cortexi to help as well. You can read more about Cortexi reviews to see if that is a suitable supplement to help with hearing loss.

It’s important to understand how hearing aids work, not just so we’re able to use them properly, but also so that we can make use of the technology behind it to make improvements.

 

What Is a Hearing Aid?

A hearing aid is a battery power device that is small enough to be worn behind the ear or inserted into the ear. It helps people hear by amplifying the sounds it absorbs and by channeling that sound directly into the ear. Hearing aids vary in size and placement and are meant to cater to varying degrees of hearing loss as well as a patient’s lifestyle preferences.

 

How Does It Work?

Most hearing aids function in the same way even when they vary in the hearing disability they are meant to compensate for. A microphone is used to absorb sound, which is then converted into a digital signal. The signal is then modified and amplified to compensate for the user’s hearing loss. The sound is then played through a receiver.

Hearing aids need to be fine-tuned by a specialist in order for it to help a patient hear properly. You can’t just buy a hearing aid and expect it to be able to improve your hearing right away. Hearing aids also come in different form factors to integrate much more naturally depending on a user’s lifestyle.

 

Hearing Aid Usage

It may take up to three months for a user to become used to a new pair of hearing aids. This is because the brain is going to need some time to register some sounds it has not heard properly. New noises may initially be overwhelming to a user, but as the brain becomes accustomed to these sounds, so too will the user become desensitized.

 

Hearing Aid Care

It’s important to avoid exposing your hearing aid to any moisture because like most electronics, hearing aids can get water-damaged. Avoid contact with sprays and makeup as these contain chemicals that can damage your hearing aid. You also need to prioritize getting your hearing aids clean in order to prevent ear infections, as well as to prolong the life and functionality of your hearing aids.

Hearing aids have been around for quite some time, yet there are many misconceptions about the device. Hearing aids can have a significant positive impact on a user’s quality of life. As such, it’s important for users to understand the core basics in order to properly appreciate their value.