We are sure, everyone present here must have met someone having difficulties to hear. In your family, neighbourhood or at your workplace. According to latest studies, Over 5% of the world’s population or 400 million people require some help to address their ‘disabling’ hearing loss (365 million adults and 35 million children).
It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people or one in every ten people will have disabling hearing loss.
Hearing loss can happen at any age. It’s considered as a silent killer, because it can lead to social withdrawal and mental decline. Hearing aids can restore some of your hearing and let you fully enjoy life, but it can be daunting to figure out which one is right for you.
The CORRECT way to buy a hearing aid
Ear drum checking by doctor / audiologist
(Otoscopy)
Hearing test by doctor / audiologist
(Tuning Forks + Audiometry + Informal Testing)
Personalize - Find your needs & select model
Programmed by a professional audiologist
Trial in different environments
Purchase
& Regular Follow Up
The WRONG way to buy a hearing aid
Find the cheapest seller
Programmed by a quack
Purchase
90% OFF HEARING AIDS
sounds like a good deal but it's a complete waste of money if it's too uncomfortable to use
BIGGEST SALE ON HEARING AIDS
means nothing if it's incorrectly programmed or just a sound amplifier that can't be programmed
● Have trouble hearing over the telephone
● Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking
● Often ask people to repeat what they are saying
● Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
● Have a problem hearing because of background noise
● Think that others seem to mumble
● Can’t understand when women and children speak to you
● If your child is not responding to loud sounds
● If child is unable to speak meaningful words at 1-1.5 year of age
Are you looking for professional guidance?
Audiologist: Audiologists are health care professionals who identify, assess and manage disorders of hearing, balance and other neural systems. (Sensorineural hearing loss) For eg. Unable to hear soft sounds, difficulties while watching TV or talking on phone, can hear but unable to understand, ringing sensation in ear, etc.
● Leaving hearing loss untreated may lead to various neurological conditions like memory loss (dementia).
● It's also observed that more people with untreated hearing loss are involved in road accidents.
● Hypertension
● Depression and anxiety leading to suicidal thoughts
● Cognitive decline
● Sleep deprivation
● Lack of confidence and self esteem
● Difficulties in multitasking (handling multiple tasks at a time)
Rehabilitation process: Hearing aids
● Hearing aid is a small medical device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss.
● Even though, use of hearing aids is still a taboo in our country, The world market for hearing aids is probably just over 1 crore units. In simplistic terms, it is fairly evenly split three ways between the United States and Canada (about 31% of the world hearing aid market by units), Europe (38%), and Asia and the Pacific Rim (22%) as well as the rest of the world (9%).
● In India, there are many global hearing aid companies that are actively functioning.
● Like any other electronic device, technology in hearing aids is constantly evolving to provide better hearing experience to the people with hearing impairment.
What types of hearing aids are there?
Hearing aids come in many different shapes and sizes.
Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) or invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) are the smallest hearing aids on the market. They sit deep in the ear canal, making them nearly invisible. Only a small plastic handle that lets you insert and remove the hearing aid will peak out.
PROS
CONS
Almost invisible
Requires physical molding
Tight custom fit
Blocked ear might feel uncomfortable and sound unnatural
Outer ear funnels sounds
No controls on the aids
Better directional hearing
Limited features
Use headphones, telephones
Low battery life
Remote or app controlled
Difficult to handle
Requires frequent maintenance
No rechargeable options
In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are slightly larger than CIC models. Since they provide space for controls, you won’t have to reach for an app or remote control every time you need to adjust the volume or program. Models without a vent can occlude the ears, meaning your own voice or chewing sounds might sound louder.
PROS
CONS
Less visible than larger models
Requires a custom mold
Comfortable custom fit
Can cause occlusion
Outer ear contributes to more natural sound
Limited features
Normal phone or headgear use
Short battery life
Rechargeable options available
Challenging to handle and clean
Elderly man with skin-colored ITE hearing aid.
In-the-ear (ITE) is a custom type of hearing aid fills the entire concha or bowl of your ear. They feature more processing and amplification power than the smaller models, making them a good choice for people with more severe hearing loss. They’re also suitable for people with limited dexterity.
PROS
CONS
Snug custom fit
Custom mold needed
Easier to handle and clean than smaller types
Less discreet
More powerful than smaller models
Lower battery life
Don't affect phone or headgear use
Can occlude ears
Rechargeable options available
The Behind-the-ear (BTE) model is much larger than hearing aids that sit directly in the ear, yet it’s less visible than the larger ITE or ITC types. A clear plastic tube directs amplified sound into the ear, where it typically connects to a custom earmold that sits in the ear canal.
Behind-the-ear hearing aid with clear plastic tube going into ear canal. Because its size allows it to pack more battery power and technology, the BTE model provides advanced processing and amplification. While this makes this type most suited for moderate to severe hearing loss, BTE-style hearing aids can also be a good choice for people with mild to moderate hearing loss because you can choose inserts that don’t block the ear canal.
PROS
CONS
Long battery life
Lower sound quality
Rechargeable options available
Visibility
Easiest handling and maintenance
More affordable
Powerful features
Unobstructed ear
Audio streaming
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids are similar to BTE, except for the positioning of the receiver. This allows this model to be smaller, with no loss in power or features. These are the best choice for people who can’t hear high-pitched sounds.
When you choose a RIC hearing aid, you’ll also have to pick disposable ear tips or domes. The soft silicone tip covers the receiver, anchoring it in the ear canal and protecting it from earwax. You can choose between closed domes, open domes, power domes, and tulip domes and each type comes in a range of sizes. People with mild to moderate hearing loss benefit from hearing external sounds and should choose an open dome ear tip. Your audiologist can help you find the perfect type and size for your ears.
PROS
CONS
Better sound with less feedback
More visible than smallest models
Long battery life
Fiddly receiver
Rechargeable options available
Requires more maintenance
Powerful features
Receiver prone to damage
Ear not entirely blocked
Price
Bluetooth streaming
When should you get a hearing aid?
Hearing aids can do a lot more than restore your hearing. In the long run, hearing loss may affect your emotional and physical wellbeing. Improved hearing can protect you from a host of psychiatric disorders, including cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, and more. Getting a hearing aid is definitely worth the hassle, but not so fast!
Age complicates hearing for all of us, so don’t be bashful about seeking help.
An age-related decline in being able to hear high frequency sounds is normal. What’s concerning is a rapid decline at a young age or significant levels of hearing loss, especially if it affects speech recognition. The cause for hearing loss can be noise-induced hearing loss or an organic reason, and for adequate treatment you should find out what it is. Hearing aids can help with mediating sensorineural hearing loss, but you might need a different treatment if you have a different type of hearing loss.
If you suspect you have hearing loss, be sure to get a diagnosis first. An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor can examine your ears, refer you to an audiologist for a full audiogram, and order further tests if needed. The audiogram measures the quality of your hearing and will reveal whether you can benefit from a hearing aid. The audiologist or your doctor will likely recommend a hearing aid if you have asymmetric hearing loss or if you struggle to understand speech. If you do need a hearing aid, you will also need the audiogram to get a perfect hearing aid fit.
DON’T JUST BUY THE HEARING AIDS, GET THE BEST OUT OF IT…!
Ear drum checking by doctor / audiologist
(Otoscopy)
Hearing test by doctor / audiologist
(Tuning Forks + Audiometry + Informal Testing)
Personalize - Find your needs & select model
Programmed by a professional audiologist
Trial in different environments
Purchase
& Regular Follow Up
Find the cheapest seller
Programmed by a quack
Purchase
