WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARING LOSS AND HEARING AIDS

There Are Three Types of Hearing Loss
Types of Hearing Aids
Styles of Hearing Aids
Size Matters When Deciding the Right Hearing Aid for You

There Are Three Types of Hearing Loss:

• Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a failure in the conduction of sound waves through the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear. Something is blocking the transmission of sound to the nerve of hearing. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including: wax impaction, ear canal infection-fungus or object in the canal, ruptured ear drum, fluid behind the eardrum or middle ear infection. This type of hearing loss can often be medically or surgically treated.

Conductive hearing loss usually involves a reduction in sound level, or the ability to hear faint sounds. This type of hearing loss can often be medically or surgically corrected.

• Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear (retrocochlear) to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be medically or surgically corrected. It is a permanent loss. Sensorineural is a type of hearing loss in which the root cause lies in vestibulocochlear nerve, the inner ear, or central processing centers of the brain, sensorineural hearing loss can be mild, moderate, or severe, including total deafness.


• Mixed Hearing Loss can occur when conductive hearing loss occurs in combination with a sensorineural hearing loss. In other words, there may be damage in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve.

Types of Hearing Aids:

• Non-digital hearing aids are analog devices. They have been around for over 30 years. Non-digital devices amplify all sounds and are noisier than digital hearing aids. Non-digital hearing aids are less expensive than digital hearing aids but they have less noise control features.


• Digital hearing aids automatically adjust to the incoming sounds. Therefore, when the noise in your world changes you do not have to adjust your hearing aid. The hearing aid adjusts for you automatically. There is no need for volume control. This enables the sound received to be cleaner and quieter sounding. Digital hearing aids also have speech processing and directional microphones that automatically reduce background noise. Digital hearing aids can be reprogrammed as your hearing changes and can be more expensive than non-digital hearing aids.

Styles of Hearing Aids:

In-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal aids: These aids are contained in a tiny case that fits partly or completely into the ear canal. They are the smallest aids available and offer a cosmetic and some listening advantages.

 

In-the-ear aids: All parts of the aid are contained in a shell that fills in the outer part of the ear. These aids are larger than canal aids, and for some people may be easier to handle than smaller aids.

 

Behind-the-ear aids: All parts are contained in a small plastic case that rests behind the ear. The case is connected to an ear mold by a piece of clear tubing. This style is often chosen for young children for safety and growth reasons.

 

On-the-ear aids: These aids are behind the ear hearing aids that are typically 50% to 80% smaller. They deliver sound to the ear through a tiny tube instead of an earmold. Their tiny size alleviates the plugged-up sensation often encountered with any of the other types of hearing aids.

Size Matters When Deciding the Right Hearing Aid for You:

• Smaller hearing aids are recommended for milder hearing loss.


• Larger hearing aids are recommended for more severe hearing loss.