How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Explaining hearing aids
Of all the things you could possibly stick in your ear, hearing aids are undoubtedly the most useful. Not only are they a cool piece of technology, they actively improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world. But you, being the inquisitive type that you are, might be wondering how hearing aids actually work. Allow Injoy to explain!
How to choose the right one
Many types of hearing aids exist. So which is best for you? Find out what to consider when choosing a hearing aid.
Maybe you’ve thought about hearing aids but have some concerns. Is this going to be an eyesore? Will it even help? It may help ease your concerns to know more about:
- The hearing aid options available to you
- What to look for when buying a hearing aid
- How to get used to a hearing aid
Hearing aids can’t restore normal hearing. They can improve your hearing by amplifying sounds that you’ve had trouble hearing.
How hearing aids work
Hearing aid parts
All hearing aids use the same basic parts to carry sounds from the environment into your ear, making them louder. Most hearing aids are digital, and all are powered with a traditional hearing aid battery or a rechargeable battery.
Small microphones collect sounds from the environment. A computer chip with an amplifier converts the incoming sound into digital code. It analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs, and the level of the sounds around you. The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers, sometimes called receivers.
Hearing aid styles
Hearing aids vary a great deal in price, size, special features, and the way they’re placed in your ear. Injoy instruments feature the latest and most popular style that is dominant in hearing aids today: receiver in the canal (RIC) or receiver in the ear (RITE). This style of hearing aid has gained market share due to several factors:
- Having the receiver inside your ear, close to your eardrum provides superior sound quality.
- The small size and position of the Injoy instruments provide a discrete solution.
- The open fit nature of these hearing aids allows the instruments to amplify sounds where you need help while allowing the sounds not needing amplification to flow naturally into your ear.
- Not big and clunky.
- No obvious objects inside your ear like many of the old-fashioned in-the-ear hearing aids.
- No occlusion. Older in-the-ear hearing aids blocked the ear canal so that all sounds passed through an electronic processor. This was a shortcoming of older, in-the-ear hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Features
Want even more customization with your hearing aid? There are other features that improve your ability to hear in specific situations. Many lower-priced instruments lack some or many of these performance-enhancing features. Injoy instruments include:
Noise reduction capabilities vary widely between hearing aids. Some also offer wind noise reduction. Injoy instruments feature the latest noise reduction algorithms to provide the best possible performance.
Before You Buy
When looking for a hearing aid, explore your options to understand what type of hearing aid will work best for you.
You can usually get a hearing aid with a trial period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it’s right for you. Have the company put in writing the cost of a trial and determine whether this amount is credited toward the final cost of the hearing aid. Also, be sure to ask how much is refundable if you return the hearing aid during the trial period.
Getting Used to Your Hearing Aid
Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. You’ll likely notice that your listening skills improve gradually as you become accustomed to amplification. Even your own voice sounds different when you wear a hearing aid.
When first using a hearing aid, keep these points in mind:
Hearing aids will never restore your hearing back to “normal”, but with your different listening situations, it makes it a lot easier to hear.
Get in touch with us. Injoy your life again.
Injoy creates custom hearing solutions based on the unique needs of our clients. Our team is the best in the business, having helped people across the country find hearing solutions for several years. Improve your hearing and improve your life today by contacting Injoy!
