Hearing aid – structure and types. How to choose a hearing aid? [WE EXPLAIN]

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A hearing aid is an electronic device designed to increase the loudness of the sounds it receives in hearing impaired people.

Hearing aid – structure

The main parts of the electronic hearing aid are: converting acoustic waves into an electroacoustic signal microphone for signal amplification amplifier and earpiece near the eardrum with the help of the earpiece. Due to their small size, hearing aids can be worn comfortably and discreetly on the pinna or the outer ear.

See also: Developmental defects of the auricle

The hearing aid – operation

Modern hearing aids are very effective thanks to advanced digital circuits. Not only can they extract speech from the perceived sounds and make it stronger, they also reduce it noises flowing from the environment, thanks to which the hearing impaired person has the opportunity to optimally hear the statements of others.

Read: How noise affects the human body

Hearing aid – how to choose?

A hearing aid is selected based on the needs of the person who will wear it, i.e. the degree of damage or loss of hearing. The first step is medical interviewfollowed by otoscopy (ear speculum), then a hearing test should be performed in a specially prepared silence cabin or a soundproofed room. Only after this is done, you can go to your hearing care professional who makes a cast of the ear and the earmold.

A hearing impaired person must have their hearing checked once a year. In the case of a child, this period is 6 months. Such a visit should last at least 30 minutes, and its aim is to assess the functioning of the hearing aid, check the patency of the wires leading to the sounds to the ear, and possibly perform control hearing tests.

Behind-the-ear hearing aids – what are they?

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are great for people with severe hearing loss and smaller ear canals. Their advantage is that the amplification sounds are much better than with custom hearing aids. In addition, they are not inserted deep into the ear, but all the elements of the device are hidden behind the ear, except for the tube that connects the hearing aid with an earpiece that fits the ear canal. These are ideal hearing aids for children as they can accommodate different types of eartips that need to be replaced as the child grows. In addition, these cameras are easy to clean and maintain, and are relatively robust.

RITE hearing aids

This type of hearing aid is also referred to as a “receiver in the ear” (RITE) or “receiver in a channel” (RIC) depending on the manufacturer. They essentially mean the same thing – a type of fit hearing aid in which the loudspeaker is built into the earbud instead of the main body of the hearing aid. In other words, the loudspeaker of the hearing aid rests in the ear canal, but the microphone and processor are housed in a small housing behind the ear. They are connected by a thin tube. This type of hearing aid has above-average sound quality and is manufactured by all major hearing aid manufacturers.

If the part of the hearing aid loudspeaker that fits inside the ear is damaged, it can be replaced at a hearing aid repair center instead of sending it to the manufacturer for repair.

What are its advantages?

1. the only type of hearing aid that has a rechargeable battery option
2. most likely it will be able to connect wirelessly to devices such as telephones,
3. the speaker can be replaced separately.

What are its disadvantages?

1. smaller sizes of RITE (known as mini-RITE) can be a problem for people with manual difficulties,
2. the loudspeaker in the ear is susceptible to moisture and earwax damage,
3. the microphone and sound processor located behind the ear are visible.

BTE hearing aid

BTE hearing aid with earmold fit all types of hearing loss, from mild to profound. Their longer shape follows the contour behind the outer ear and can generally accommodate more features, controls and battery power than any other hearing aid. BTE with an earmold is commonly used for children as the BTE can be reprogrammed as needed and the earmold can be replaced as the baby grows.

What are its advantages?

1. fits all degrees of hearing loss, including profound hearing loss,
2. usually models with wireless connectivity are available,
3. the fitted earmold can be replaced separately,
4. less susceptible to damage caused by moisture.

What are their disadvantages?

1. potential space restrictions for people wearing glasses,
2. it is not as discreet as other hearing aids.

Also read: Girls are becoming harder and harder to hear

In-ear hearing aids – types

In-ear hearing aids (ITE) they are worn in the ear canal and are adapted to the individual needs of the patient. This type of hearing aid is usually available in a variety of skin tones to fit the outer ear. Some types of ITE hearing aids fit very deep into the ear canal, while others are closer to the outer ear. There are two types of in-ear hearing aids:

1. apparatus invisible in the canal (IIC),
2. fully in-canal (CIC) apparatus. 

IIC and CIC devices are considered to be the smallest and most discreet hearing aids. As the name suggests, the camera that is invisible in the channel, or the deep channel device, is practically invisible. The wearer places it very deep in the ears, to remove them pulls a small pull string. CIC hearing aids – Located entirely in the ear canal, they are very similar to IICs except that they are not placed that deep in the ear canal.

These types of hearing aids are suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Due to their small size, they usually don’t come with manual controls like volume knobs or program buttons.

What are their advantages?

1. are very discreet,
2. they are characterized by their good sound quality thanks to their precise fit in the ear. 

What are their disadvantages?

1. susceptible to damage by earwax and moisture,
2. small size may be a problem for the elderly, 
3. the small size can also be a problem in connection with wireless devices such as smartphones.

Intra-canal hearing aids (ITC)

ITC hearing aids, just like CIC aids, are placed in the patient’s ear canal. Due to their semi-shell design, they are slightly larger than IIC and CIC hearing aids, tend to have a slightly longer battery life and can fit a wider range of hearing losses. Their size allows for additional functions such as directional microphones for better understanding in noisy environments, and manual controls such as a volume knob.

What are their advantages?

1. are discreet,
2. longer battery life and more features than IIC and CIC cameras.

What are their disadvantages?

1. susceptible to damage by earwax and moisture,
2. obstructed ear ventilation,
3. difficult operation of the camera in the case of people with less manual dexterity,
4. small size can be a problem in connection with wireless devices.

What is the difference between analog and digital hearing aids?

Analog hearing aids make continuous sound waves louder. These hearing aids essentially amplify all sounds (e.g. speech and noise) in the same way. Some analog hearing aids are pre-programmed. They have a microchip that allows you to program settings for different listening environments (in a quiet and noisy place, over a large area). Analog hearing aids can store many programs for different environments.

As the environment changes, the hearing aid settings can be changed by pressing the corresponding button on the device. Analog hearing aids are becoming less and less popular.

Digital hearing aids have all the functions of analog hearing aids, but they convert sound waves into digital signals and produce exact sound duplication. Computer chips in digital hearing aids analyze speech and other ambient sounds. Digital hearing aids allow for more complex sound processing during the amplification process, which may improve their performance in certain situations (e.g. background noise). They also show greater flexibility in programming, so that the sound they transmit can be tailored to the needs of a specific hearing loss pattern. Today, the vast majority of hearing aids are based on digital technology.

Read: Pole more and more deaf

Hearing aid – price

The prices of hearing aids vary widely – they range from about PLN 1000 to even several thousand. The components of this price include the quality of the components used to create the hearing aid, as well as additional options, such as built-in, specialized listening modes that can be conveniently changed, programs that maintain natural hearing functions or binaural synchronization – very important when using hearing aids for both ears.

In Poland, hearing aids are reimbursed by National health Fund. The second option for co-financing are PFRON funds – this applies to people whose income does not exceed the established limit. In the case of the National Health Fund, the co-financing may be as high as 100 percent. Some people who use the resources of the State Fund for Disabled People may additionally receive a subsidy for the purchase of a hearing aid from MOPS / PCPR (Municipal Social Assistance Center / County Family Assistance Center).

See: Poland is the leader in hearing research

Hearing aid reviews

People who wear a hearing aid on a daily basis usually have very positive opinions about it. Thanks to the development of technology, it does not happen that this device does not help or malfunctions. It is a common opinion that it is a great help in everyday life, which you simply cannot do without at a certain age.

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