- Understanding how hearing aids work makes it easier to choose the best option for your needs.
- Hearing aid styles, technology levels, and features should match your lifestyle and listening environments.
- Working with an audiologist is essential when learning how to choose the best hearing aids for long-term success.
Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities, affecting 1 in every 8 adults. Hearing loss can have many impacts, both socially and health-wise. It can increase communication barriers, feelings of social isolation, and listening fatigue, as well as increase the risk of depression, falls, and cognitive decline.
The good news, though, is that hearing loss can be effectively managed through the use of well-fit amplification. Hearing aids come in various styles, sizes, and colors, but essentially all work in a similar fashion.
Understanding how to choose the best hearing aids starts with learning how they work and what options are available.
How Hearing Aids Work
There are four main parts of a hearing aid: the body, the amplifier, the receiver, and the rubber dome tip or earmold. The body of the hearing aid is the largest portion and contains the battery, programmable computer chips, an amplifier, microphones, and any physical buttons or controls. The microphones are what detect acoustic sound signals within your environment. The microphones can be programmed to be either omnidirectional or directional, meaning they pick up sound from all directions (360 degrees) or only pick up sounds that are in front of you.
Once acoustic sound is detected by the microphones, the signal is sent to the second part of a hearing aid: the amplifier. The amplifier changes the signal from acoustic to electronic, allowing the hearing aid to make any necessary adjustments. By adjustments, we mean the amplifier decides the amount of additional gain needed in order to overcome your hearing loss.
Once the electronic signal is adjusted for your needs, it will be sent to the third component: the receiver. The receiver can be located in many places within a hearing aid, depending on the style. Some hearing aids have the receiver within the body of the hearing aid and plastic tubing attached to a custom earmold that acts as a funnel for the final sound to travel through. This is also the case if the hearing aid is a custom-made device that fits within your ear canal. Other hearing aids have a physical wire that allows for manipulation of the electronic signal as it travels down the wire.
The main function of the receiver is to change the electronic signal back into an adjusted acoustic sound signal. Once this happens, the receiver will then physically push the acoustic signal out through the dome/earmold, into the ear canal. The dome/earmold, the final component of a hearing aid, acts as a place marker. These positions the receiver comfortably within the ear canal, but also at an appropriate location for the sound signal to be released.
Essentially, we do not want the receiver pointing directly at an ear canal wall, as this will negatively impact the listener’s ability to hear the receiver’s output. This new acoustic signal, then, is what is picked up and interpreted by your auditory system.
Hearing Aid Styles Explained
As mentioned earlier, there are many styles of hearing aids.
The Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) is often the most common, as it can fit many hearing loss configurations and degrees. RITE hearing aids include all of the above components and have the physical wire through which sound travels from the body of the hearing aid to the dome/earmold.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are also common, especially for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. BTE hearing aids differ by having plastic tubing instead of a physical receiver wire.
The last style of hearing aid is custom devices, which house all the hearing aid components within a single piece. Custom hearing aids are made specifically for an individual’s ear anatomy using earmold impressions.
These come in many sizes, ranging from In-the-ear (ITE), which are the largest, to Completely-in-the-canal (CIC), which are the most discreet and fit entirely within the ear canal.
Technology Levels and Listening Environments
Each style also includes different technology levels and strengths. Technology levels help determine the amount of support in background noise, as well as what additional features are activated. In our office, we explain technology levels through your personal listening environments.
Controlled environments require the least amount of background noise reduction, as the listener is most often within quiet environments interacting with 1–2 people on average. Therefore, this individual would pursue controlled hearing aids that have directional microphones with the main goal of giving other people’s voices a necessary boost.
Balanced environments are one step higher and require increased background noise reduction, as the listener finds themselves within noisy environments a few times a week. Balanced hearing aids offer background noise reduction as well as the ability to transition between different listening programs and are great for individuals who sometimes need additional listening support.
Challenging listening environments are the most difficult and are filled with background noise and large groups of people. Individuals who find themselves within challenging listening environments most days of the week would choose challenging hearing aids that have automatic switching microphones to provide maximum noise reduction and improve speech clarity. Balanced and challenging hearing aids also provide additional support for tinnitus if needed.
Additional Hearing Aid Features
Aside from providing amplification, hearing aids have other optional features that can act as an added bonus for the listener. Hearing aids can be rechargeable or battery-operated.
Rechargeability is a great feature because it ensures that your hearing aids will not die randomly in the middle of your workday. Many hearing aid chargers also include a power pack, which allows the option of charging without a power source—an important feature for Alaskans who like to spend time exploring the state.
Most hearing aids also have Bluetooth compatibility, allowing them to connect to your iPhone, Android, or Samsung device. Bluetooth connection can allow for direct hands-free phone calls, streaming of music or media, and the phone to act as a remote control for the hearing aids.
The most advanced features that can be included are fall detection, foreign language interpretation, and a fitness activity tracker. If any of the features listed above are a must-have for you, make note, as only certain styles and manufacturers offer these.
Working With an Audiologist
Now that you understand how a hearing aid works and what styles, technology levels, and additional features are available, how do you choose which hearing aid is best for you?
Before choosing any style of hearing aid, you should visit an audiologist for a full diagnostic hearing evaluation.
An audiologist can review your full medical history, ensure no active ear infections, and explain your type and severity of hearing loss in detail. They can also explain the positives and negatives of each style as it pertains to your needs. The audiologist should also be very open about the price of each style and technology level of hearing aid, as well as what warranties and in-office visits are included in these prices.
If this information is not provided upfront, consider getting other opinions. It is appropriate to shop around and check prices at varying clinics, but always remember that you get the devices and services that you pay for. It is also appropriate to check into insurance benefits, as some plans provide partial hearing aid coverage.
Confident Decisions Start With the Right Guidance
Overall, choosing hearing aids can be a complicated decision because they are complicated technology. This article should give you insight into how hearing aids work, as well as help you feel more confident in how to choose the best hearing aids for your needs. Always remember that your audiologist is available to provide support throughout this process.
If you are unsure how to choose the best hearing aids for your lifestyle, hearing loss, and long-term goals, scheduling a professional hearing evaluation is the most important next step. With expert guidance, you can move forward confidently and reconnect with the sounds that matter most.
