One of the most common conditions that can affect your quality of life, relationships and career; is, yes, hearing loss. If you are having difficulty understanding words, especially when in a crowd, you start to feel embarrassed by frequently asking others to speak more clearly and loudly. You may be suffering from hearing loss. It’s time to dig in, simplify your life and use technology designed to help you.
Hearing loss can be due to a variety of causes. In older age, hearing loss can make conversations difficult and some people experience feelings of isolation. Exposure to loud sounds and noise can also lead to hearing loss. In the U.S., about 1 out of every 8 people has hearing loss. Only 16 percent of adults who could benefit from hearing aids have tried them. In adults aged (65-74years), 25 percent have a disabling hearing loss, and 50 percent of adults over the age of 75 have a disabling hearing loss. The good news is that there are solutions, including hearing aids.
Types of hearing loss
The type of hearing loss you are suffering from depends on the part of the ear damaged. There are three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.
- Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when there is a problem with the outer or middle ear, which interferes with the passing of the sound to the inner ear. It can be caused by such things as too much earwax, ear infections or a punctured eardrum.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when the hearing organ, the Cochlea, and the auditory nerve is damaged. Thia can be genetic or caused by the natural aging process, diseases, accidents or exposure to loud noises.
WHY HEARING AID?
What is this magical device that makes life easier? Hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. A hearing aid can help people hear better in both quiet and noisy situations. A hearing aid has three basic parts:
- A microphone
- Amplifier
- Speaker
They are easily available in the market. Improved versions of these small devices have a powerful impact on one’s quality of life and are available in different sizes and shapes, both in analog and digital form. You can set the frequency according to your choice.
Types Of Hearing Aids
- Behind-The-Ear (BTE) rests behind the ear. A customized earmold that is fitted inside the ear canal, BTEs are the world’s most common hearing aid. They are typically the biggest and are ideal for moderate to severe hearing loss.
- Receiver-In-Canal (RIC). This style hearing aids is an instrument where the receiver — or speaker — is inside the ear canal, which is then connected to the main device by a thin electrical wire. RICs are typically smaller than BTEs. RIC hearing aids are sleek and stylish, usually feature packed and are great options for mild to moderate hearing loss.
- In-The-Ear (ITE) are the biggest of the custom-fit styles. Each ITE is machine-crafted — based on a mold of your ear — with all the components fitting in a plastic casing that then fits smoothly within the outer portion of the ear. They are used for mild to severe hearing loss.
- In-The-Canal (ITC) are based on a mold of your ear. They are smaller than ITEs, with only a small part of the hearing aid shell showing in the outer ear. ITCs can include manual controls for volume and memory and are a good custom-fit choice for mild to mildly severe hearing loss.
- Completely-In-Canal (CIC) are made to fit completely in your ear canal. Only the tip of a small plastic “handle” shows outside the canal, which is used to insert and remove the instrument. CIC hearing aids are used to help with mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Invisible (IIC) are the smallest, most discreet hearing aids made. This custom-fit style is inserted in the second bend of the ear canal, so it’s completely invisible when worn. They’re only used for mild to moderate hearing loss.
The Best hearing aid brands that are popular among people include; Unitron Hearing Aids , Starkey , Widex Hearing Aids , Oticon Hearing Aids and Hansaton.
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