advanced noise reduction hearing aids
Noise reduction hearing aids doesn’t actually reduce the noise. Where there is noise and speech, it does reduce the amplification of the frequencies. When a fan is on, the hearing aid will amplify the speech more than the fan. The more advanced noise reduction hearing aids work to break up the frequencies into smaller units.
Also known as: background noise reduction hearing aids
analog hearing aids
Analog hearing aids uses your audiogram to amplify the sound, and this is used in many hearing aids. It is either conventional or programmable. Conventional aids will equally amplify all sounds; therefore, some sounds will be loud, and other sounds too soft. This can be corrected when the volume is adjusted.
analog hearing aids (programmable)
Analog hearing aids can be programmed to different settings. These settings can be saved, so the person can switch to the setting that works best in the current environment.
assistive listening devices (ALD)
Devices designed to assist people who have hearing loss function better in certain situations. Some examples are: amplified telephones, induction loop systems, FM systems, and infrared systems.
audiogram
Audiograms are a graph of a person’s hearing threshold levels. It shows the softest sounds a person can detect at different frequencies. Also it shows the lowest and highest pitches heard.
Also known as: hearing test, hearing loss test, hearing frequency test
audio induction loop
An assistive listening device where wire is placed around a room and connected to audio devices, like a television. This creates a field that will transmit sound to hearing impaired people wearing hearing aids. Inside the loop, sound is clear without any background noise.
audiologist
A health care professional educated to assess a person’s hearing loss and other hearing problems (i.e. tinnitus). A variety of procedures are used to check hearing function, then assist in choosing hearing aids and other hearing devices.
Also known as: hearing doctor, hearing aid provider, hearing specialist, ear doctor, pediatric audiologist
aural rehabilitation
People with hearing loss go to rehab to learn to improve their speaking and communication. abilities.
automatic volume control hearing aids
Hearing aids that adjust automatically and instantly to make loud sounds comfortable and soft sounds louder.
Also known as: self-adjusting hearing aids
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.
Bluetooth hearing aids
Bluetooth hearing aids are advanced digital hearing aids that connect wirelessly to Bluetooth devices. This might be audio devices PDA’s, computers, or cell phones. They are connected to s a streaming device that make the hearing aid a hands-free headset.
BTE hearing aids
This hearing aid fits behind your ear, and it connected to a mold that fits inside your ear with tubing. These custom made devices attach to the ear with an ear hook. They are known for their durability and practicality.
CIC hearing aids
The hearing aid is totally inside the ear canal. CICs are very small in size (almost invisible). Not all people can wear this device because of canal shape or size.
cochlear implants
This device will be a substitute for damaged hair cells in the inner ear. It is implanted into the cochlea with surgery. It uses an external process to send an electrical signal to the auditory nerve. The user will then perceive sound through the cochlear implant. It is used for severe to profound hearing loss.
decibels
A unit used in measuring sound.
digital hearing aids
Digital hearing aids revolutionized hearing when they came onto the scene in 1996. This translates sound to digital code. After changing the code, it sends it back using math calculations. This technology duplicates sound transmission, and now it has created a more quality sound with increased accuracy.
disposable hearing aids
This hearing aid has a battery that is built in. After a certain amount of hours or time, the entire hearing aid will be disposed of and replaced.
feedback
Feedback is best described as a high pitched screeching sound experienced by hearing aid users.
frequency
The unit used in measuring the pitch of sound.
half shell hearing aid
A type of hearing aid that is smaller than the ITE aid, but bigger than the canal aid. It fills half of the bowl of the ear.
hearing aid
An electronic device which amplifies and sends sound to the ear. The three basic parts of a hearing aid are the microphone, the amplifier, and the receiver. Hearing aid battery replacement
hearing aid battery replacement
Hearing aid batteries will need replacement. Check with the individual battery directions for frequency.
hearing aid trial
A set period of time when a hearing aid buyer may try the hearing aids made for him/her. If the person isn’t satisfied, they may return them for a refund (there may be a trial fee).
hearing amplifier
An electronic device that will increase the electrical signal strength.
hearing loss
A decrease in a person’s ability to hear is called a hearing impairment or hearing loss. With mild and moderate losses, the person may not be affected. In profound hearing loss, the person can not hear, but can sense vibrations.
- Normal hearing -10 thru 15 dB
- Slight hearing loss 16 thru 25dB
- Mild hearing loss 26 thru 40 dB
- Moderate hearing loss 41 thru 55dB
- Moderately severe loss 56 thru 70 dB
- Severe hearing loss 71 thru 90dB
- Profound hearing loss 91 thru 120 dB
Also known as: sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, profound hearing loss, unilateral hearing loss, congenital hearing loss, severe hearing loss, mixed hearing loss
hearing test
A series of tests that use an audiometer to measure hearing loss.
Hertz
The frequency of a sound in cycles per second. It is named after Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.
ITE hearing aids (in the ear)
A type of hearing aids that fits in the bowl part of the ear. They are most often used for moderate hearing loss.
Also known as: full shell hearing aid (FS)
invisible hearing aids (IIC)
Invisible hearing aids are not visible because they fit further down in the ear canal than the other types. It is out of sight even if you look directly into the ear bowl. They use venting and their placement to make the hearing experience more natural. These are most suitable for users that are middle age or younger.
mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensor neural losses.
open ear hearing aids
This hearing aid fits over the ear with a wire that runs into the ear and a small, soft tip. There are holes in the tip to keep the user from feeling plugged. These hearing aids are used for high frequency loss.
occlusion
The strange sound that hearing aid wearers experience, where their voice sounds distorted, as if speaking in a tunnel. This is caused when canal blockage keeps sound from escaping.
otologist
A physician who specializes in ear diseases.
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