Health Topics for Hearing

Department of Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology Clinics

Hearing Aids

Between 20 and 25 million people in the United States have some kind of hearing loss. For many people whose hearing cannot be corrected through medical treatment, hearing aids offer help. Many hearing losses, ranging from mild to profound, are improved by wearing a hearing aid.

A hearing aid can be custom fitted to an individual's hearing loss and to a variety of listening conditions. Hearing aids cannot restore a person's hearing to normal, but they can make it easier to hear.

Different styles of hearing aids exist:

• A body aid has an earpiece connected by a wire to a small body-worn case containing a microphone and amplifier. It is the most powerful type of hearing aid.

• A behind-the-ear hearing aid has an earpiece that connects to a short tube, microphone, and amplifier.

• An in-the-ear hearing aid uses an earpiece that contains a microphone and amplifier and sits inside the user's ear. About 80% of hearing aid users wear this style.

• An in-the-canal hearing aid is similar to an in-the-ear hearing aid, but is smaller and sits deeper in the ear.

• A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid is smaller still, out of sight, and deep inside the ear canal.

• Eyeglass hearing aids have the hearing aid in the eyeglass frames. These are rarely used today.

When a person is fitted with a new hearing aid, the brain requires time to get used to new sounds. Most people begin by wearing the hearing aid at home for limited periods of time. Each day the time and settings in which they wear their hearing aid are increased.

Protect your hearing aid by keeping it:

• dry and clean

• away from dogs and cats

• away from heat, water, hair spray and

• do not drop, or mishandle it

If you suspect a hearing loss, contact your healthcare provider for a hearing test. A hearing test can determine the degree and type of hearing loss.

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