Usually, the sound processed in a hearing aid reaches the eardrum later than the sound that is heard directly. And when these two “unsynchronized” signals are mixed, you get an artificial sound. But now you can hear every moment, like before. All hearing aids use the same basic parts to bring sounds from the environment into the ear and make them louder.
Most hearing aids are digital and all work with a traditional hearing aid battery or a rechargeable battery. Some people with hearing loss feel that their hearing is OK while they are at home or that they don't need to hear while reading the newspaper or watching TV. They feel that it is not important to hear the operation of the boiler or air conditioning, the footsteps on the floor, the people moving around the house, etc. Actually, it's very important to hear these subtle sounds.
As you hear more amplified sounds, you build a tolerance for the higher volume levels of the sound, which helps amplified sounds appear more natural. Increased Exposure Leads to Optimal Performance with Hearing Aids. All of this is done by the brain automatically without people realizing that it is happening. A hearing aid increases sound vibrations that enter the ear.
Surviving hair cells detect the largest vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are transmitted to the brain. The greater the damage to a person's hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. However, there are practical limits to the amount of amplification a hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into neural signals.
In this situation, a hearing aid would be ineffective. There is no magic number of hours given to suggest that hearing aids be worn throughout the day, but they should be worn as much as possible. The voice that comes out of the mouth is also picked up by the microphones of the hearing aid and also returned to the ear. They are generally not recommended for young children or people with severe to profound hearing loss because their small size limits their power and volume.
In addition, researchers are investigating the use of computer-aided technology to design and manufacture better hearing aids. Widex makes a substantial effort to ensure acoustic transparency: the sound of the hearing aids is as close as possible to the original sound source without audible artifacts. Therefore, an important and appropriate goal is that the hearing aids can deliver sound quality that the user can hear for many hours during the day without experiencing increased hearing fatigue. This means that the occlusion effect will be the same with the hearing on as when the hearing aid is muted.
Because surgery is required to implant any of these devices, many hearing specialists believe that the benefits do not outweigh the risks. Hearing aids can be a significant expense, so the potential benefits of advanced instruments should be compared to the higher costs in each individual case. Makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can hear, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. Contact the Information Center of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) if you have questions about organizations that offer financial assistance for hearing aids.
For eligible children and young adults age 21 and under, Medicaid will pay for diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, including hearing aids, under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). .
