Hearing aids are frequently misunderstood and sadly, even unaccepted by a majority of society. Sure, they cost a great deal of money, but they are still an essential tool for the hearing impaired. Here’s a breakdown of the 5 W’s and one H on hearing aids.
What Are Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are electronic medical devices designed for the hearing impaired. They are used to magnify sounds and to make up for lost hearing. They do not completely restore hearing, but rather they amplify sounds to make it so those with a hearing impairment can hear more than they normally would without an aid. In addition, hearing aids can also help to improve the wearer’s speech and clarity.
When Should I Get a Hearing Aid?
If you think you may have a hearing loss requiring the use of hearing aids, schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test to find out whether or not you’re a candidate for hearing aids. Hearing aids are recommended for individuals with a moderate-profound hearing loss, which is typically between 40db or more loss.
Where Can I Buy a Hearing Aid?
There are many different options as to where to buy a hearing aid. Your audiologist should be able to help. Many audiologists sell them themselves. You can opt to purchase them from a major cooperation such as Miracle Ear, or from an independent audiologist or retailer. Hearing aids purchased from independent retailers or audiologists typically have less up-front costs. However, they may charge you more for visits, basic cleanups, and other services. Miracle Ear on the other hand will charge you more for hearing aids but offer free services for basic checkups and cleanings.
How Do Hearing Aids Work
Hearing Aids are very complex devices, which may explain why they cost so much to purchase. As I previously stated, they are designed to amplify sounds. Most hearing aids come with a few main parts: an ear mold, an ear hook, a microphone, an amplifier, and a battery component. The ear mold is custom created to ensure a snug and secure fit. The mold is then attached to the hook with a clear plastic tube. The hook connects back to the amplifier to allow sound to past through from the amplifier to the ear mold. Think of the amplifier as a speaker box. This is the main and most important part of the hearing aid. It can be hard for many individuals to understand what makes the amplifier so powerful. It is filled with many small, intricate, and powerful parts such as micro connectors and palladium alloys that work together to strengthen the electrical circuits to ensure that your hearing aids works as efficiently as possible to ensure a heightened sound quality. In addition to containing the micro connectors and palladium alloys, the amplifier also contains a miniature microphone and a speaker to amplify all sounds that come through.
Why Should You Wear Hearing Aids
Sadly, even after being diagnosed with hearing loss, many individuals choose not to wear their hearing aids. Kids fear being made fun of by their classmates. Adults fear that it makes them “old”. People also don’t like to put out the money for them (they are very rarely covered by health insurance and typically cost over $2,000 apiece on average). However, hearing aids are very important for those with hearing loss. They not only help to amplify sounds, but they can help inviduals improve their speech, communicate with others, and improve their overall quality of life. With so many benefits provided by hearing aids the real question shouldn’t be “Why should you wear hearing aids?” but rather, “Why aren’t you wearing hearing aids?”