Hearing Aids Secrets

As old age weakens the power of senses, the need for external support tends to arise in old people. Hearing aids are one such support function that is required by the elderly people to strengthen their hearing senses and hear the sounds aptly. In simple words, a hearing aid is device which is used by people suffering from hearing problems to help them hear well. This is commonly used for people who are hard-of-hearing. It is generally required by old people, but it can be used by anyone who experiences hearing problems.

In the past years, these hearing aids were a cone like amplification funnel and were called ear horn or ear trumpet. Today, the ear horns have developed in small yet sophisticated electronic devices that only need to be fit into the ear of the wearer.

Hearing aids have undergone several changes both in terms of sizes and technology. Various new innovations and technologies have been incorporated in the aids to make them efficacious and comfortable.

So Let us take a comprehensive overview of some hearing aid technologies.

Wireless The modern hearing aids incorporate wireless hearing aids. The wireless technology allows a single hearing aid to transmit to the other side. This means that if a person presses the program button of one aid, the changes would be done simultaneously to the other aid as well. As a result both aids can simultaneously change the settings of the background. The wireless technology has also given rise to the FM hearing aids.

Telecoil Telecoils are also known as T-coils. These permit various sound sources to be directly linked to the hearing aids. This results in sound quality improvement and allows the wearer to perceive the required signal, regardless of the background noise or the type of environment. The ‘telecoil’ technology allows the hearing aids to be used with public address systems, induction loop systems, FM systems and telephones.

T-coils basically feature a metal rod or core and an ultra fine wire coiled around it. Telecoils are also known as induction coils. This is because of the reason that when the coils are put under an electromagnetic field, a sporadic electric current is induced in the wire. The T-coils identify the electromagnetic energy and convert it into the electrical energy.

Processing The internal mechanisms of various hearing aid devices vary accordingly. There are basically three types of electronics and circuitry used in hearing aids.

Analog/Adjustable: The specifications and volume that is required in one’s hearing aid is determined by the audiologist. After that, the aid is built in the laboratory to meet the required specifications. However some flexibility is retained by the audiologist so that later adjustments could be made. Following its simplicity, this circuitry is highly affordable.

Analog/Programmable: Herein, the audiologist employs the usage of a computer to design one’s hearing aid. The analogue / programmable hearing aids circuits are designed in such a way that they can adjust more than one setting or program. If a remote control device is featured with the aid, the wearer could comprehensively adjust the settings to a particular listening environment.

Digital/Programmable: The hearing aid is programmed by the audiologist with the help of a computer. Moreover, he can adjust the response time and sound quality according to the individual. The components used in the digital hearing aids are a computer chip, battery and a receiver. With the help of digital circuitry boards, the audiologist can gain maximum flexibility in the adjustment of the aid. In fact digital circuitry can be used with all type of hearing aids.