Hearing Aids

What are hearing aids?

Hearing aids are devices placed in the ears that amplify sound, making hearing easier for those with hearing problems.

How do hearing aids work?

An electronic hearing aid is essentially a microphone, an amplifier and an earphone. The microphone detects sound, while the amplifier increases the volume of the sound. The sound is then transmitted to the ear canal through the earphone or speaker. A hearing aid may be worn behind the ear or may be placed discreetly inside the ear. The more sophisticated ones may be undetectable, as they are placed well inside the ear canal.

When are hearing aids suitable?

Hearing aids amplify sound, so they are most effective in cases of mild to moderate hearing loss caused by problems in the conduction of sound through the eardrum or because of decreased function of the cells responsible for hearing (inner ear sensory cells). These are called conductive and sensory hearing loss, respectively.

For more severe cases of hearing loss, cochlear implants may be more effective, as they directly send information to the auditory nerve, the nerve responsible for transmitting information to the brain. Hearing aids, on the other hand, simply amplify sound.

If I have hearing loss, who can help me?

If you have problems with hearing, an ENT or aaudiologist may be able to help you. A number of tests will establish hearing deficiency, including:

• Audiometry (an electronic hearing test)
• Auditory response test
• Caloric test
• CT scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected)
• MRI of the ear
• Tympanometry
• X-ray of the head