Hearing Aids 101

Hearing aids, whether they are Siemens hearing aids or any other brand, essentially pick up sounds from the environment and transmit them to your ear, usually after amplifying them so that you can hear them better. There are quite a number of different types of hearing aids on the market today, but they all have a microphone to pick up sound, an amplifier to increase its volume, a speaker to transmit the sound to your ear and a battery to power the device.

You can find different hearing aid styles to fit your needs and budget; both digital hearing aids and analog ones come in a variety of models. Do a good amount of research, check out some hearing aids 101 websites, and talk to a hearing specialist before you go looking for invisible or cheap hearing aids. Your hearing is not to be taken lightly and you have to choose an aid mainly based on your hearing needs.

The smallest models are those that can be placed directly inside your ear canal; these are the most invisible of the hearing aid models. These aids can be used to help with hearing loss in adults that ranges from mild to moderate. Since the device is so small and is placed entirely within the ear, the ear protects it somewhat from wind noise.

They do have a few disadvantages, though. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to add accessories, such as directional microphones and volume controls, on to these small aids. They’re the most expensive of the styles and the battery life is often shorter due to the small size of the hearing aid batteries.

Another option for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss is the “in-the-canal” hearing aid. This model fits in the ear canal, but only partly and does not go deep. Because it is slightly larger than the previously mentioned model, it can accommodate more accessories, though since it is still a relatively small model, the accessories may be slightly uncomfortable to manage.

There are then the “in-the-ear” styles that occupy the space on your outer ear over the entrance to the ear canal. People with mild to severe hearing loss should consider this model. These aids are more visible; also because they are found outside the ear canal, they are much more subject to wind noise. Accessories are easier to add and adjust, however. Finally, since the device is bigger, it can accommodate bigger batteries; bigger batteries mean longer battery life.

The most powerful type of aid and the model that any age group with almost any type of hearing loss can find useful is the “behind-the-ear” model. As the name implies, part of this model sits snugly behind your ear, while another part fits inside your ear canal. Traditional models are the largest hearing aids on the market and are the most visible, but atone for their disadvantages with their efficiency and ease of use. Newer versions of this model are much smaller.