Hearing aid

Hearing aid

A pair of Oticon Spirit Zest digital BTE (Behind the Ear) hearing aids.

A hearing aid is a small electrical machine which fits in or behind a person's ear. The purpose of a hearing aid is to make sounds louder so the person can hear spoken words and other sounds.

The two most common types of modern hearing aids are behind the ear aids and in the ear aids.

Before hearing aids were invented, people used "ear trumpets" also called ear horns.<ref>Comparison of Hearing Aids Over the 20th Century. Ear & Hearing. 21(6):625-639, December 2000. Bentler, Ruth A.; Duve, and Monica R.</ref><ref>http://www.hearingcenter.com/Questions/Q_ear-horn.html Ear Horn Q&A. Accessed 6 Dec 2007.</ref>

In-the-ear aid

Types of hearing aids

There are many different types of hearing aids as shown in the "different hearing aids," image on this page. Depending on your lifestyle as well as how much help you need to hear, you will use different hearing aids. An audiologist can help make hearing aids even better suited to you by customising them depending on what you need.

• In-The-Canal (ITC) - the smallest type of hearing aid, these are made to fit inside of your ear canal and can be used by people with mild to moderate hearing loss
• In-The-Ear (ITE) - these are slightly larger than the ITC aids and fit inside your outer ears instead of the canal. These can be used by people with mild to severe hearing loss
• Behind-The-Ear (BTE) - sit behind your ear and connect to a mould placed in your ear through a tube. This type of aid is usually the largest but can be used by almost anyone with hearing loss and has many different functions

Different hearing aids.

Other websites

• NIH Information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Better Hearing Institute Non-profit website containing articles and information on hearing loss and hearing loss solutions.
• Hearing Loss Association of America Consumer-based self-advocacy group, information.
• Hearing Aid Blog Hearing aids reviews and information.
• Consumer Hearing Aids Resource Information and resources on hearing aid manufacturers
• Hard of Hearing Advocates Non-profit foundation dedicated to helping those with hearing loss
• American Academy of Audiology Find an Audiologist, and get more information on hearing loss.
• British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists Find A Hearing Aid Dispenser in the UK.
• Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists Find a Hearing Aid Dispenser in Ireland.
• Canadian Academy of Audiology Consumer information on hearing loss, professional resources.
• American Hearing Research Foundation The American Hearing Research Foundation which funds significant research in hearing and aims to help educate the public in the United States.
• Action On Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) Information and resources about hearing loss.

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