Introduction

Hearing loss hinders spoken communication and can be devastating. Identifying your hearing loss is the first step to getting help. Hearing aids are the most effective therapeutic devices available for most people who are hard of hearing or deaf. Hearing aids that are properly fitted and used can improve functional listening abilities. In turn, better listening ability enhances the lives and well-being of many people with hearing loss and their families, friends, and co-workers.

How do I know what hearing aid is best for me?

Today there are many different types and styles of hearing aids available. The one that is best for you will depend on many factors including the amount of hearing loss you have and the listening situations you are in on a daily basis. The best way to determine the best hearing aid for you is to have your hearing tested by an audiologist and discuss the options available to you.

Will a hearing aid cure my hearing loss?

No. Hearing aids compensate for hearing loss. They help you to function better in daily communication situations, but they do not restore normal hearing. Hearing aids do not cure hearing loss.

Will a hearing aid make my hearing worse?

Properly fitted hearing aids will not make your hearing worse. The audiologist should make sure they are not set too loud, and all aids have a cut off level to protect the listener from excessive noise levels. Some people who use hearing aids report that they feel as though their hearing has decreased after they take the aids out of their ears. This is because they have become used to the amplification and hearing better while wearing the aids.

Will wax in my ears interfere with a hearing aid?

Excessive wax can interfere with the process of taking an impression for earmolds when you are ordering an aid, or interfere with the aid itself. It can also cause a lot of feedback (whistling). If you have a great deal of wax in your ears, you should have it removed by a doctor. A small amount of wax in your ears is normal. You will need to clean your hearing aids on a regular basis to be sure that wax does not get inside the aid and prevent it from working properly. Ask your audiologist to show you how to clean your hearing aids.

Will a hearing aid cause me to have ear infections?

If you do not have ear infections before you are fit with a hearing aid, you will not have problems with ear infections after you are fit. Keeping the hearing aid clean will help to prevent outer ear infections.

What is the difference between a behind-the-ear aid (BTE) and an in-the-ear aid (ITE)?

A behind-the-ear hearing aid rests behind your ear and is connected to a plastic piece called an earmold that sits in your outer ear. This carries the sound from the hearing aid into your ear. An in-the-ear aid does not have the piece behind the ear. All of the mechanical parts of the aid are housed inside a plastic shell that is in the ear. In-the-ear aids come in a variety of sizes. The larger ones fill up the outer part of your ear; the smaller ones, called in-the-canal hearing aids are inserted into the canal portion of the ear and do not fill up as much of the outer ear. A newer style called a completely-in-the-canal aid is inserted deeper into the ear canal and is less visible than the other styles of hearing aids.

Are smaller hearing aids better?

Smaller hearing aids are considered by many consumers as being more modern and therefore, more advanced. This is not necessarily true. Smaller hearing aids may be more "invisible" and acceptable cosmetically, but are only suitable for specific hearing losses. Discuss this issue with your audiologist.

What is a conventional hearing aid?

A conventional (or traditional) hearing aid is one that is not programmed through a computer and does not use a computer chip to control the sound in the aid. Your audiologist tailors the conventional hearing aid to your specific hearing loss by adjusting the aids with a screwdriver or special tool.

What is a programmable hearing aid?

A programmable hearing aid is an aid that your audiologist programs through a computer or another specialized device to tailor the hearing aid to your hearing loss and to your communication needs. Many programmable hearing aids have more than one memory (or program). You, as the hearing aid user, choose which program you will use for listening in quiet situations and which you will use in noisy situations. Some hearing aids may incorporate programs for music or other listening situations depending on the user's needs. Many, but not all programmable hearing aids, require the use of a remote control.

What is a digital hearing aid?

A digital hearing aid is one that incorporates digital sound processing. This type of technology allows for more sophisticated processing or controlling of the sound inside the hearing aid so that for some people the sound is a little clearer than with conventional hearing aids. Some users of digital hearing aids report that they have less trouble hearing in places where there is background noise than they did with conventional hearing aids. Digital hearing aids usually adjust automatically and almost instantaneously to the type of environment you are in (noisy vs. quiet, for example).

Are there any disadvantages to digital and programmable hearing aids?

The primary disadvantage of these types of hearing aids is the cost. Digital hearing aids generally cost two to three times as much as conventional hearing aids.

How much do hearing aids cost?

There is a wide range in the price of hearing aids. The cost of hearing aid depends on many factors including whether the hearing aid is conventional, programmable or digital.

I have trouble using my VCR, how am I going to handle something as complicated as a hearing aid?

You don't need to be an electronics expert to use hearing aids. As with most new things, there are things to learn and a period of adjustment. Your audiologist and hearing aid dispenser should teach you how to put the hearing aids in your ear, how to adjust the volume or settings, change the battery, clean and care for them. Your questions and feedback are essential to your feeling comfortable with your hearing aids.