Hearing aids are
small, electronic devices that
amplify sound.
While they can’t restore normal
hearing, hearing aids can help
you hear better by making
certain sounds louder in both
quiet and noisy situations.
Hearing aids come in several
styles that fit
in or on your ear in different
ways, including “behind
the ear,” “in the ear,” “in
the canal,” and “completely
in the canal.”
While the style may vary,
all hearing aids have
the same basic parts:
a microphone, amplifier,
speaker, and battery.
Here’s how they work:
First, the microphone picks up
sounds from the environment.
Then, a computer chip
with an amplifier
converts the sound waves
into electrical signals.
It analyzes and adjusts
the sounds based on your hearing
loss and the level
of other sounds around you.
These amplified signals are then
converted back into sound waves
and delivered to your ear
through the speaker.
In this way, hearing aids
can improve your hearing
and speech comprehension
if your hearing loss is caused
by damage to the sensory cells
in your inner ear.
The greater the damage
to these cells, the more severe
your hearing loss will be,
and the more amplification
you will need from a hearing aid
in order to compensate.
If you think you might have
a hearing loss
and could benefit from using
hearing aids,
talk to your doctor
or audiologist
for more information.