A hearing aid can help you hear the speech of those around you. It will not bring back your hearing to normal. It is most helpful for people who have hearing loss due to problems with the sensory cells in the ear, most often due to aging or injury.
Sound starts as pulses that enter the ear. The pulses awaken sensors in the ear. The sensors make messages through the nerves that the brain understands as sound. Damage to these cells can make them less able to sense pulses. A hearing aid raises the power of the pulses so the cells can sense them.
Technology has made some hearing aids better. Take some time to learn about the types you can choose from. Your doctor or a hearing specialist can help.
There are two types of hearing aids:
You can choose a hearing aid based on your needs:
Other tools may also help support your hearing aids.
Other features to think about include directional microphone, feedback suppression, wax guides, automatic volume control, and noise reduction.
Your doctor or hearing aid specialist can talk to you about which types may be best for you.
Use the hearing aid as advised. Some have changes that can be made for different settings. You will need to follow cleaning instructions to keep the device working as it should.
Q. I just got a hearing aid and am bothered because my voice sounds too loud and other people sound far away or like they are talking into a barrel. Can I get this to stop?
A. Things can sound strange at first but often start sounding normal again over the first month or so. Ask your doctor what you can expect when you start using your hearing aid. If the problem lasts longer or the issues are very bothersome, ask if changes can be made to the hearing aid.
Call your doctor or hearing specialist if at any time you:
American Academy of Audiology
http://www.audiology.org
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
Canadian Academy of Audiology
http://www.canadianaudiology.ca
The International Hearing Society
http://ihsinfo.org
Hearing aid buying guide. Consumer Reports website. Available at: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/hearing-aids/buying-guide.htm. Accessed September 17, 2021.
Hearing aid: caring for. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed September 17, 2021.
Hearing aids. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website. Available at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-aids. Accessed September 17, 2021.
Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mary-Beth Seymour, RN