What is hearing aid ؟

A hearing aid is a small electronic amplifier that is placed inside or behind the user's ear and receives the sounds that are to enter the ear and then, according to special adjustment formulas, harmonizes the entered sounds with the person's hearing loss and causes heard speech. and surrounding sounds to be heard normally.

The hearing aid amplifies the sounds for the user in such a way that his personal life continues very close to normal.

Hearing aid users can establish their normal and everyday communication in a completely natural and normal way and do not have to be very careful and understand to found conversations.

Classification of different types of hearing aids is done in two ways:

• The first classification of hearing aids is based on processing circuits into three main groups:

»»  Older or analog hearing aids (not programmable with computer software)

These basic hearing aids, as basic amplifiers, increase the intensity of the sound entering the hearing aid without distinguishing between useful sounds and speech signals and unnecessary signals (such as annoying street noises and car horns).

The biggest drawback of this type of hearing aid, which alone makes any responsible professional refuse to prescribe it to the deaf, is that there is usually no controller on the output sound of these hearing aids that does not allow the hearing aid to produce a sound with a higher intensity than a certain level. In the long run, this factor will have irreparable effects on the user's hearing remnant and make him less hearing.

Production of these hearing aids has ended in many countries.

»» Digital hearing aids (programmable with computer software)

Digital hearing aids are hearing aids that can be programmed with computer software and can be adjusted according to the hearing condition of the person with hearing loss Based on the amount of hearing damage so that the sounds in the environment are not amplified and the person can be more satisfied with Have your own hearing aid.

In these hearing aids, the adjustments made amplify the useful signals more and the annoying sounds are heard with less amplification.

These hearing aids have the ability to limit the maximum amplification applied, and this makes the audiologist have no worries about damaging the sound of the hearing aid to the rest of the user's hearing.

These hearing aids can be programmed in different programs for different environments so that a person can easily follow speech and sounds in any environment.

»» Smart hearing aids (much more advanced than digital hearing aids)

New generations of digital hearing aids are known as smart hearing aids.

Thanks to the technologies used in them, these hearing aids first categorize the sounds entered into the hearing aids and then amplify the sounds that the person wants to hear more and do not amplify the annoying sounds much.

These types of hearing aids use their speech trackers to find the human voice around the person and then amplify those sounds and provide clearer speech to the person's ear. In other words, these hearing aids have the power to adapt to different auditory environments.

In these hearing aids, quiet sounds are heard with good intensity, but loud and annoying sounds will be heard with less intensity, all of which make a person enjoy hearing the sound of smart hearing aids and show completely natural behaviors when listening.

»» Smart wireless hearing aids (brain function simulator)

As we all know, the best way to hear is when both ears able to hear the same sound, and combining the sounds of both ears provides a lot of information to our brains to easily understand the sound quality, to play different sounds ...

This category of hearing aids, which has the highest technologies in the world, professionally coordinates the sounds of both hearing aids and simulates a function similar to the function of the human brain so that the person with hearing loss  can easily hear perfectly in their meetings in crowded places.

In this category, both hearing aids have a completely controlling effect on each other and provide excellent coordination to balance the hearing of both ears.

This category of hearing aids can communicate with special educational microphones or TVs, mobile phones, etc. via Bluetooth.

• The second classification of hearing aids is based on the shape of their placement in the ear:

The full details of each model of hearing aid are explained in separate articles, please click on it to learn more about each model.

In-ear hearing aids (click): Hearing aids that are placed inside the ear canal.

100% invisible hearing aid inside the ear (click) : This hearing aid model is a type of in-ear hearing aid that is made with the latest technologies very small and is located deep inside the ear canal and provides the user with normal hearing in a completely invisible.

Hearing aids behind the ear (click) : Hearing aids that are located behind the ear and send sound through a special tube to the ear mold and then the ear canal.

RIC receiver hearing aids (click) : This model of hearing aids, also known as invisible hearing aids on the back of the ear, almost offers the user the most advantage of the hearing aids inside the ear and on the back of the ear together.

What are the restrictions on hearing aids? (Click)

Some people may ask what are the side effects of using a hearing aid or why you should not use a hearing aid?

Unfortunately, in some cases, we find that some hearing aid users suffer from problems and say that the sound of the hearing aid makes them uncomfortable, and in some cases, they may even decide to stop using the hearing aid forever.

These people are usually people who have a history of using old hearing aids. In old hearing aids, due to the lack of necessary controllers, it is not possible to apply precise scientific and specialized settings on the hearing aids and they usually have an unpleasant sound and upset users.

In these hearing aids, because there is no limit on the sound of the hearing aid, in long-term use, it causes serious and irreparable damage to the user's remaining hearing, which will reduce the ability to understand speech and words.We must also keep in mind that even the most advanced types of hearing aids can cause the same problems and have the least efficiency if they are not adjusted by your hearing and hearing specialist based on your hearing loss.

Some ask, "Can we postpone our use of hearing aids?"

In response to these people, we say that in terms of hearing science and hearing aids, no group of deaf people who need to use hearing aids should delay the use of hearing aids.

There are many benefits to using a hearing aid, the most important of which is the return of the person to the community and a happier and happier life, without stress and worries about misunderstandings caused by hearing loss.

By Saadat Chigol / Iranian Audiologist