• Variety - there are several types of hearing aids in different shapes and sizes for different types of ears.
• Programmability - allows individual analog or digital hearing aids to be optimally programmed to fit the degree and pattern of hearing loss.  This is critical in minimizing the effects of background noise in different listening environments (i.e. restaraunts, theatres, cars, classrooms, etc.)
• Hearing aids are simply amplifiers that increase the sound volume, they DO NOT improve CLARITY of SPEECH.

     Hearing aids may not be effective in all situations.  If appropriately tested speech discrimintation (clarity of speech) is less than 50%, it is likely that a hearing aid will not be effective.  If speech discrimination is, however, at least 60% then a hearing aid will more likely be effective.

     There are 4 main types of hearing aids: body, behind the ear, in the ear, and in the ear canal.  In the ear or in the canal hearing aids are the most commonly used type.  It is generally recommended that hearing aids be fitted for both ears.

     Hearing aids can either be digital or analog.  Conventional hearing aids utilize analog amplifiers which amplify both speech and background noise, a major reason why most patients do not use hearing aids.  Digital programmable hearing aids have improved the sound quality and fidelity of most hearing aids by suppressing background noise and selectively amplifying speech signals.  Programmable hearing aids allow users to change settings for different listening situations (i.e home, car, theatre).

Click here to print this page