Are you worried about your hearing? It may be time to look into hearing aids.
It won’t always be obvious when your hearing starts to lose its strength. It could start with difficulty concentrating when people are talking to you, ringing in the ears, or frequently having to turn up the television or radio volume. Over time, if you don’t look after it, things can get a whole lot worse, to the point where you might need a hearing aid.
In this post, we’re going to give you a crash course on hearing help by telling you what exactly hearing aids do to help you hear. Getting your first hearing aid can be an overwhelming experiencing, so read on and learn as much as you can about this helpful technology.
What Is a Hearing Aid?
A hearing aid is essentially an electronic device that amplifies certain sounds for people that have lost some or most of their hearing ability. They help people hear in loud or quiet situations, allowing the user to communicate, listen, and enjoy some level of normalcy in social situations. There are a couple of different types of hearing aids on the market now.
The first is worn behind the ear and made up of a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker. When sound comes in, it’s picked up by the microphone, which then converts the sound waves into an electrical signal for the amplifier. The amplifier boosts the electronic signal and the sound is played through the speaker directly into the user’s ear.
There are also inner ear hearing aids that fit fully inside the outer ear. These are also made for those with mild to severe hearing loss, but instead of the analog equipment discussed above, many of these take advantage of digital technology that converts sound waves into code, which ends up giving the audiologist a lot more control over the pitch and volume of the sound. For this reason, digital hearing aids are more expensive.
Do You Need a Hearing Aid?
Only 1 out of 5 people that could benefit from a hearing aid actually have one. There are numerous signs that you might have hearing loss, which you can find here. Hearing loss can come as a result of age, lifestyle, or genetics, but to truly know if you need a hearing aid, you’ll have to go see an audiologist or otolaryngologist for testing.
There are a plethora of hearing tests that you might undergo; some with the aid of tuning forks, while others may probe the actual inner ear to look at potential damage. Once you’re diagnosed, then you can be fitted for a hearing aid by a professional, like this hearing aid service based in Wichita.
Help Your Hearing Today
Now that you understand a bit more about how they work, you can start searching for your first hearing aid today. To find an audiologist and hearing aid center in your area, Google “hearing aids near me” and find a reputable company that can accommodate you. Once you get tested and have your hearing aid fitted, you’ll wonder why you’ve waited so long to do it.
If you enjoyed this post, come back again for more on health, tech, and travel.
