Hearing Aids

The Creator has provided us with the five senses to see, hear, taste, smell and touch life and if one among these were missing, one would be totally oblivious of one fifth of the world. To save one from that kind of obliviousness man has come with various machines that can be a replacement for you natural sense. In this article we would discuss Hearing aid, which is a device that can be operated electronically to amplify sound and facilitate communication for an individual who cannot hear. It has a microphone, which receives the sound and changes the sound into sound waves and transfers them to the amplifier. The role of an amplifier is to augment the power of the signals and send those signals to the ear with the help of the speaker. Thus we can come to a conclusion that a hearing aid consists of the following:

• Amplifier
• Speaker
• Microphone

What are the kinds of Hearing Aids that are available in the market?

There are various kinds of Hearing Aids that are available and that can be used. Here are some of the types, which you can get for yourself depending on your requirement:

Body Worn Aids are the first type of hearing aids which were invented and consisted of a case that had all room for all the devices used for the amplification of sound and also had an ear mold which was connected to the box by a chord. This kind of hearing aid is still in use but only in extreme cases wherein the requirement of amplification is more and variations are also needed.

In The Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids fit in to the person's ear and cover only a part of the ear. They are often used for mild hearing loss and at times for severe cases. There are to kinds of its hearing aids available which are known as Mini canal (MIC) or Completely in the Canal (CIC) hearing aids which are effective and state-of-the-art as well because they are not visible until and unless you look into the individual's ear. These hearing aids have some disadvantages like they might be difficult to adjust or remove but there are specially designed ITC hearing aids, which have a coil like thing to facilitate communication over the telephone which is definitely innovative. Some ITC hearing aids are also disposable and do not require battery changes or repairs. They are certainly convenient to use but then it is always advisable to be careful when taking a bath or swimming. Some people find it inconvenient since it is like a foreign object in the ear canal and they are strongly not recommended for children.

Behind the Ear Aids are meant for use by children. They are worn behind the ear and have plastic attachment, which fits along the ear pinna and is called an ear mold. This ear mold consists of a case, which receives the sound and amplifies it before it enters the ear.

In the Ear (ITE) Aids are those which fit in the outer ear and are visible but there are many other advantages to this kind of hearing aids. They have a special coil, which makes it easier to carry on with telephonic communication. These hearing aids can be used for mild to severe hearing problems but they are not recommended for childr4en since the casing needs to be changed for growing children.

When you buy a hearing aid make sure that suits your requirements since there are varieties available and some manufacturers even customize it according to specific needs. Check the functioning of the aid and consider if you want a digital or an adjustable hearing aid. Apart from the type and the functioning also check the possible problems and future servicing. Always go for ones that offer you a free trial period with their products so that you can understand if the one you have selected is at all appropriate for you or not.