How Do Hearing Aids Treat Hearing Loss?

One of the most sophisticated medical technology devices of all time isn't the large surgical machines in hospitals: it's hearing aids. These little devices either sit in or on the ears, and they're there to help you to hear better. They are not curative of your hearing loss, as hearing aids are not designed to be a cure. They are, however, designed to amplify and improve the hearing you do have. Hearing aids can be considered as miraculous, and in their simplest form, they have just four components: a microphone, an amplifier, a receiving speaker and a power supply.

It doesn't matter the style or size of the hearing aids; these four components are all included. Hearing aids treat hearing loss by amplifying the little sound that you do receive in your ear canal. The microphones and receives work to convert energy from one form to the next. The microphone works to gather sound and converts this sound into an electrical signal. The receiver gathers electrical signals from the amplifier, and they then convert back to sound again. 

Between these points, the amplifier pushes up the signal supplied by the microphone and then transmits it to the receiver, sending it to your inner ear. Hearing aids are – for this reason – considered as magic! The conversion of energy into electrical signals means that even if you have minimal hearing, your audiologist should be able to amplify it so that you can better hear the world around you. 

Hearing Devices Help You to Manage Hearing Loss

When you talk to your audiologist about your hearing loss, they'll talk you through the range of hearing devices that will work for you, and they'll tell you all about how they work. From discussing the hearing aids that sit in the ear to offering you options for the behind-the-ear hearing aids, you can ensure that you get the hearing aids that offer you the best sound amplification possible. 

Microphones pick up the sound and convert it to that digital signal that your brain can then pick up on. The amplifier in the hearing aids will then increase the strength of that signal, and in the most sophisticated devices out there, the signal is manipulated and processed better. The receiver and speaker then convert it back into sound, sending it to the inner ear, which the brain then hears and understands the sound like speech. Digital makes a big difference when it comes to saying hello to your new hearing aids, too. Digital signal processing has revolutionized hearing aids, and this enabled scientists and manufacturers to write the smartest software possible, developing sophisticated algorithms that improve speech in busy environments and without increased feedback.

A chat with your audiologist can help you ascertain which range or style of hearing aids out there will be best for your hearing loss. They'll also help you with shaping your hearing around the best hearing support possible. You should consider which hearing aids are best for you and then talk to your audiologist about getting fitted.