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What Types of Hearing Aids Are Used for Severe Hearing Loss?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 5 to 10 percent of hearing loss in adults (and a somewhat higher percentage in children) can be treated medically or surgically. For others with severe hearing loss, hearing aids can be very beneficial.

  1. Types

    • There are three types of technology used in hearing aids today: conventional analog, analog programmable and digital programmable.

    Identification

    • Conventional analog aids are set to respond to a particular sound frequency determined by an audiologist. For an analog programmable unit, the audiologist will pre-set several levels of amplification. Digital programmable hearing aids use digitized sound processing to differentiate between speech and noise.

    Benefits

    • Conventional analog hearing aids amplify all sounds equally, which can be a problem in a noisy environment. Analog programmable aids allow the user to push a button and change to an amplification that improves hearing in a particular setting. Digital programmable hearing aids modify signals to reduce distortion from unwanted noise.

    Considerations

    • Digital programmable hearing aids are best for modifying sounds to match a person's specific hearing impairment but are the most expensive. Many people are happy with less expensive conventional or programmable analog hearing aids.

    Tips

    • It's important to select an audiologist certified by the American-Speech-Language Association to ensure you have the right hearing aid for your lifestyle.

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