In America alone, a whopping 21 millions residents suffer from hearing problems and impairments, which can stem from a variety of causes and factors. Hearing aids are devices that can provide valuable enhancement to many people suffering from a hearing disorder or impairment. Millions of people in America and around the world benefit through the use of a hearing aid, and this device can make a real difference to your hearing and to your quality of life. Hearing aids are used by people of all ages, from youngsters to the elderly, and can benefit many people hugely.
A hearing aid uses a tiny microphone and speaker to enhance sound, and through this amplification those with impaired hearing may be able to enjoy far better hearing. You can get a number of difference hearing aid devices, and different people benefit from different devices, so it is important to ensure that the device you are looking to buy is going to suit your needs before you actually make your purchase. It is also important to remember that hearing aids are not designed for totally deaf people, as users must be able to actually hear to some degree in order to benefit from an aid.
There are a number of causes of impaired hearing, and providing you still have the ability to hear to some degree, a hearing aid can provide valuable enhancement for impairment caused by many of these causes. The causes include: old age, infections, trauma, congenital hearing problems, drug use, punctured ear drum, waxy blockage, fluid build up, and others. There are also a couple of types of hearing loss, and these are known as conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss does not normally require the use of a hearing aid, as this condition can usually be corrected through surgical procedures and medical treatments. The causes of conductive hearing loss include eardrum punctures, waxy build up, ear infections, genetic impairment, or impairments at birth. This type of hearing loss stems from the outer and middle ear, and treatment can often rectify the problem without the use of the aid.
The second type of hearing loss, sensorineural, is usually enhanced through the use of a hearing aid as surgery and treatment does not normally suffice. The causes of this type of hearing loss include old age, some birth defects, bacterial infections, viral infections, ear or head trauma, drug use, and tumours. Because the damage from this type of hearing loss concerns the inner ear, the solution is often a hearing aid.
If you have hearing impairment, but you are not sure of the cause or whether you could benefit from the use of a hearing aid, it is important to seek advice from your GP. Your hearing loss may be a type that can be rectified through treatment or surgery. There again, you may need a hearing aid. However, it is best not to assume that a hearing aid will help, as this could prove a costly mistake. Instead, let your doctor check and see whether you could benefit from using an aid.
If you are advised to get a hearing aid, you should also book a check up with the audiologist or dispenser from whom you plan to buy your aid. This will help determine which type of aid will best meet your needs depending on the severity and actual cause of impairment. It is also important to go through a reputable dispenser or audiologist to ensure that you are getting a quality hearing aid that is going to work and last – and one that will meet your needs.
Many dispensers and audiologists allow you to take the recommended hearing aid for a trial period for a small fee, so you can wear it for a week, a couple of weeks, or even a month, and see whether it works for you. If so, you can go ahead and pay the full purchase price. If it doesn’t feel or sound right, you can simply return it and pay the small fee for the trial period.
