Hearing Aids work by amplifying sound and is made up of 3 parts;

• The microphone receives sound and converts it into a digital signal
• The amplifier increases the strength of the digital signal
• The speaker transmits the amplified sound into your ear

Click to view FuelAdmin video on How Hearing Aids work

Classification of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss (decibels)	Classification
0-25 dB	Normal
26-40 dB	Mild hearing loss
41-55 dB	Moderate hearing loss
56-70 dB	Moderate-to-severe hearing loss
71-90 dB	Severe hearing loss
91-100 dB	Profound hearing loss

Digital hearing aids can be programmed differently depending of the type, pattern and severity of your hearing loss. They convert sound waves into codes (similar to computer codes) which have information on pitch and volume of the sound coming into your ear.  Most advanced digital hearing aids allow automatic adjustment so that the background noise is reduced while the important sounds such as voice can be amplified to allow you to hear more clearly and comfortably.

Click to view DrCliff video on How do Hearing Aids work

Designs of Digital Hearing Aids

There are several designs and types of hearing aids and they differ in size, placement in or on the ear, and how well they amplify sound.  Most have automatic features which allow for volume adjustment and programming to respond to different background noise environments.

1. Canal hearing aids fit inside your ear so that they are not so visible and are cosmetically more acceptable.  They can be;

• In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aid fits your ear canal and cover up to a third or half of the pinna
• Completely-In-Canal (CIC) aid is smaller and nearly hidden in your ear
• Invisible-In-Canal (IIC) hearing aid is nearly impossible for others to see
• In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aid fits completely inside your outer ear

2. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids sit behind your ear with a silicon or hard plastic ear mould which fits around the outer ear and directs sound to the ear.

3. Receiver-in-canal (RIC) has a behind-the-ear component that connects to a receiver inside the ear with a tiny wire.

Your audiologist will discuss the many options for hearing aids suitable for your condition after you have completed your hearing test.

See your audiologist to get a hearing test done and hearing aid fitted properly

---

Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. 

If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.