What you should know about hearing aids
Read more about hearing aid basics

What is a hearing aid?
A hearing aid is a battery-operated, electric device that changes and amplifies sound to allow for better hearing and improved communication. Hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, which then converts the sound waves to electrical signals. The amplifier increases the loudness of the signals, sending the sound to the ear through a speaker.
What are the mechanics behind hearing?
Hearing requires the following series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrical impulses that the auditory nerve carries to the brain. The ear has three major parts, described as the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. First, sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through a narrow tube called the ear canal that leads inside the ear to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves and transmits these vibrations through three tiny bones called the ossicles in the middle ear. These bones amplify the sound and send it through the entrance to the inner ear and into the fluid-filled hearing organ.
Next, the vibrations make ripples in the fluid. The vibrations then bend tiny hair cell projections in the cochlea, causing electrical impulses that the auditory nerve, or eighth cranial nerve, sends to the brain. Finally, the brain translates these impulses into what is commonly defined as sound.
Here’s a shocking statistic: only one out of every five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. Visit your doctor immediately if you think you might be suffering from hearing loss. He or she may refer you to an audiologist to determine the cause, type, and extent of your hearing problem and whether hearing aids can help you.
How hearing aids can help
Although hearing aids are helpful, they do not restore normal hearing or eliminate background noise. Hearing aids are electronic devices that fit inside the ear and help amplify sounds.
Choosing a hearing aid that’s right for you
You and your audiologist can determine if a hearing aid is the right device for your type of hearing loss, whether you choose analog over digital, or adjustable over programmable. Always ask if the warranty covers repairs and if there is a trial period before purchasing any hearing aid.
Adjusting to your hearing aid
Adjusting to a hearing aid is a slow and gradual process which involves learning to listen in a variety of environments and becoming accustomed to hearing different sounds. Your own voice may sound too loud; most people get used to this given enough time. Or, you may hear feedback or a whistling sound. This may be caused by the fit of the hearing aid or by earwax or fluid buildup—see your audiologist to correct this.