Important Facts About Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are commonly available in our society. They are extremely helpful to people with hearing loss. In the US alone, it’s estimated that there are over 15% of the population is having hearing issue.
As a result, hearing loss is happening at such an alarming rate and hearing aids are probably one of the greatest inventions in this century.
Hearing aids can come with a variety of models and types. There are millions of hearing aids in the market. Buying hearing aids can be a gruesome task in view of the variety of prices and features.
The following paragraphs describe some basic knowledge on hearing aids.
Hearing Aids and Devices
Hearing aid is an electronic device that can be worn behind the ear or in the ear. Some models are small enough to be entirely fitted in the ear canal. Therefore, such device is hardly visible but is pricey in terms of cost.
There are actually two general types of hearing aids. There are analog and digital hearing aids. The basic function of both types of hearing aids is the same which is to amplify the sound received.
In addition, hearing aid is a generic term used for any devices that help to address hearing issues. Therefore, there are a variety of devices that fit into this term and the device doesn’t necessary have to be worn behind the ear or in the ear.
Types of Hearing Aids
Behind the Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
There are several types of hearing aids in the market. The most common one is the Behind The Ear (BTE) hearing aids. As the name implies, BTE hearing aids are fitted behind the ear. It delivers amplified sound through a connected ear mold. The ear mold can be cheaply replaced if it’s broken or doesn’t fit into the ear anymore. As a result, BTE hearing aids are especially suitable for children when the ear molds need to be replaced constantly as the child grows up. Moreover, BTE hearing aids is very useful in addressing medium to serious hearing loss.
In The Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
In The Ear (ITE) hearing aids are similar to BTE in terms of fitting and voice delivery except that they can be custom made to fit in the ear bowl. As a result, ITE hearing aids are slightly more discreet than BTE types but sometimes they are still visible to observers.
Receive In The Ear (RITE) Hearing Aids
The RITE or Receive In The Ear hearing aids are literally the same as BTE hearing aids. The only difference is the location where the speaker is being placed. For the RITE hearing aids, the speaker is put inside the ear canal whereas it’s located outside for BTE hearing aids. The benefit of RITE hearing aids are that they are hardly visible since they are completely hidden in the ear. Besides, RITE hearing aids deliver better and crisper voice with little or no interference.
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
Bone anchored hearing aids work by surgically implanting a small hearing device directly into the skull right behind the ear. There are several reasons for doing this. One of which is the fact that external hearing device is not able to transmit sound to the ear through the auditory canal. The mechanism works by bypassing the auditory canal to transmit sound.
This type of hearing aid is specifically designed for people with severe hearing loss such as those having problem in transmitting sound from outside to the inner ear. People who are deaf in one ear but are fine in another can also benefit greatly from bone anchored hearing aids.
Sophisticated Technology in Hearing Aids
There have been a lot of technologically advance features being incorporated into hearing aids currently. Some sophisticated wireless technologies that can be commonly found in hearing aids are FM transmission and Bluetooth.
FM transmission is considered a common feature available in most hearing aids. In fact, a lot of cinemas, theatres and lecture halls are equipped with FM system that is specifically designed to transmit voice to people with hearing loss. Besides, some schools are also adopting FM transmission to teach children with hearing loss.
Bluetooth technology has been getting popular in hearing aids lately due to its easy implementation and is widely supported by a lot of applications such as cell phone and laptop computers. Therefore, you might want to consider hearing aids equipped with Bluetooth.
Costs of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are expensive devices and a decent pair can cost in between $500 and $1,500. Unfortunately, the costs of hearing aids are usually paid by the users as most health insurance plans don’t cover hearing aids. But some state laws do require state regulated health insurance to bear at least a portion of the costs involving the device and the medical diagnosis.
You should check with your healthcare provider before deciding to purchase a hearing aid. In some situations, the costs of hearing aids are fully covered if the hearing loss is caused by industrial or vehicle accidents. Moreover, in the US, the purchase of hearing aids is considered as medical expenses and thus can be deducted as a form of tax refund.
