When your hearing starts to diminish, it may be time to consider talking to your healthcare professional about hearing aids and the possible accessories you can purchase for them. Hearing aids do not have to feel like a crutch or impediment to your life and can soon become as integrated with your body as your limbs. Hearing aids can help you to hear clearly with ease.
Why Do People Need Hearing Aids
There are many different reasons why someone may need hearing aids. Individuals of any age and from any walk of life may use hearing aids, for many different health reasons. Ultimately, hearing aids are needed due to damage that has occurred to the small sensory cells within the inner ear.
- Disease- Damage to the inner ear cells may be a result of a disease, such as”
- An autoimmune disease of the inner ear
- Ménière’s disease is known to cause damage to the inner ear, leading to hearing loss
- Otosclerosis is a disease that involves the inner ear and can lead to loss of hearing
- Aging- As individuals age, damage within the inner ear can occur naturally, leading to loss of hearing. This is one of the most common reasons for hearing loss. Many seniors may need a hearing aid to help restore their hearing.
- Injury- There are many different ear-related injuries that can cause hearing loss.
- Blow, cut or trauma to the ear canal
- A sudden and dramatic change to the air pressure
- A serious head injury, which can lead to the eardrum being ruptured
- A sudden, extremely loud noise
Different Types of Hearing Aids
Depending on the extent of your hear loss, there are many different hearing aids you can use.
- Invisible In The Ear Canal (IIC)- This custom hearing aid is specially fitted to the inner ear canal and is completely invisible.
- Completely In The Canal (CIC)- Only the small plastic handle used to insert and remove the hearing aid can be seen from outside the ear.
- In The Canal (ITC)- This form of hearing aid is custom made to fit the ear canal and tends to be used for mild to severe hearing loss.
- In The Ear (ITC)- The form of hearing aid is fit securely in the outer part of the ear and tends to be used for mild to severe hearing loss.
Hearing Aid Accessories
Technological advancement has allowed for hearing aids to be easy to use, with many different accessories creating further comfort for users.
- Wireless microphones- When in a large group or meeting, it can be hard to hear conversations from across the room. Wireless microphones allow your hearing aids to pick up on the noises around you.
- Wireless fixed-line calls- Specialty wireless phones can now transmit phone calls to your hearing aids, allowing you to know when someone is trying to reach you with ease.
- Apps- Hearing aids now can be controlled by your wireless smart phone through an app, allowing you to control the volume of your hearing aids in any situation discreetly.
