Hearing loss is not something anyone desires to experience; however many people will have to face hearing problems. In fact, one out of three people age 60 and older have some hearing loss. Hearing loss can make it difficult to understand a doctor's advice, to respond to warnings, and to hear alarms or doorbells. This problem can also make it hard to enjoy talking with loved ones and friends. This can be embarrassing, frustrating, and possibly dangerous.
Hearing aids are an answer for many types of hearing loss. They are tiny instruments worn in or behind the ear to make sounds louder. Hearing aids do make things sound different, but hearing aid professionals at hearing aid centers can help you get used to it. These professionals can be found in San Francisco.
You may have to try more than one hearing aid to find one that works best for you. You can ask the audiologist at the hearing aid center if you can have a trial period with one or two different hearing aids. The audiologist will work with you until you are comfortable.
Hearing aids have similar electronic components, which include a microphone to pick up sound; batteries to power electronic parts; an amplifier circuitry to make sound louder; and a miniature loudspeaker to send the amplified sound into the ear canal.
Hearing Aids Types (BTEs, CICs, ITCs)
There are different types of hearing aids. Some of these types are Behind-the-Ear (BTE), In-the-Ear (ITE), and In-the-Canal (ITC) and Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC), Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA), and disposable hearing aids .
- BTE's benefit all types of hearing loss. This hearing aid fits behind the ear, and is connected inside the ear with tubing. The ear hook is custom made to fit each individual user.
- ITE's are for moderate hearing loss. They are worn in the ear. If the person has extremely small hears, this model won't be acceptable.
- ITC's and CIC's are placed inside the ear canal. CIC's are very small in size and nearly invisible. ITC's are larger. Some cannot wear these because of their canal shape and size.
- In the Canal (ITC) and Completely in the Canal (CIC) - With ITCs and CICs, the whole hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal. ITCs are often larger than CIC devices. CICs are extremely tiny in size and are almost invisible. Some people due to their canal shape or size are unable to wear these types of devices.
- Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) - BAHA's are a special bone conduction hearing aid. It will transfer the sound through the skull, not the ear canal. It does that through a surgically implanted post. The hearing aid attaches to this post. The vibrations go through the hearing aid, to the post, to the skull, to the cochlea to help in the hearing of sound. This is used for conductive loss.
- Disposable hearing aids - You can choose a disposable hearing aid. They have a built-in battery and after a certain amount of time or use, the person will replace the whole hearing aid.
Important Questions for Choosing a Hearing Aid Provider in San Francisco
Knowing the type of hearing loss you have will help you to find the type of hearing aids that work best for that hearing loss. The selection of hearing aids is based on the type and severity of hearing loss, listening needs, and lifestyle.
Below is list of some of the more common symptoms you might have that will tell you if you could have a hearing loss problem.
- Do you have a ringing in your ears when you are in quiet surroundings?
- Do you turn up the volume on the television because you can't hear it?
- Do you ask others to repeat what they said?
- Do you have a difficult time hearing or distinguishing sounds in noisy situations?
- Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation between more than two people?
- Does it sound like everyone is mumbling?
- Do you have a family history of hearing loss?
- Is dizziness common for you?
- Do you have frequent ear infections?
If you have any of these hearing loss symptoms, the next step is to have a hearing test done by a certified hearing test provider.
Reasonable Expectations for New Hearing Aids
Hearing loss can't be completely corrected with hearing aids. No hearing aid can return your hearing to normal or give you a substitute for normal hearing. The benefits gained from wearing hearing aids, even the most advanced hearing aids, will be different from person to person. Wearing hearing aids consistently will bring the greatest benefits.
Hearing aids amplify sounds so you can hear them. The purpose is to make soft sounds audible, loud sounds loud (but not too loud), and the sounds of normal conversation comfortable. They improve a person's capacity to understand speech, like conversations, by amplifying the sounds the individual can't hear. The degree to which hearing aids can improve speech understanding depends on the degree of the individual's hearing loss and how much noise is present in the situation.
In noisy situations, hearing aids can amplify the high-pitched consonant sounds more than the low-pitched vowel sounds to assist in better understanding. No hearing aids, however, can completely eliminate background noise that is troublesome. There are advanced hearing aids that use multiple microphone technology to enhance communication even more in noisy environments.
What Not to Expect from Hearing Aids
The way your ears and auditory system work cannot be changed with a hearing aid or other assistive listening device. Hearing aids cannot restore your hearing to a normal level, nor can hearing aids stop hearing loss from progressing. Thirdly, hearing aids cannot distinguish between the sounds you would like to hear and those you would not like to hear. The brain's role is to distinguish the desirable signals and suppress the other sounds.
