Hearing aids help people with hearing loss make better sense of the world by compensating for the loss in volume; thereby allowing them to communicate better with their loved ones. But, have you ever wondered how they work, and how beneficial they are? Well, in this article, we are going to look at a few things we think you must know about hearing device from a distance to help you understand these tools a bit better!
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
A hearing aid is a complex machine that allows you to listen better. But we are going to simplify the process so that you can understand better.
- Sound is received by the microphone and converted into a digital signal
- The amplifier increases the strength of the digital signal
- The amplified sound is then produced by the speaker into the wearer’s ears
Benefits of Digital Hearing Aids
Digital hearing aids offer a range of benefits that devices like the Roger Phonak FM System allow a person to lead a better and more confident life. Let’s look at a few of the most prominent benefits.
Multiple Listening Programs
Digital aids come with multiple listening programs to help users choose the best program for the environment they are in. There could be multiple settings for different conditions such as reducing the background noise or increasing the ambient sound. Moreover, some digital aids require little to no manual input and can automatically switch between multiple modes to choose the best listening program depending on the noise conditions.
Directional Microphones
Unlike omnidirectional microphones that pick up noise from all directions; directional microphones come with two different microphones. The technology allows the device to focus and amplify the source of the sound while reducing the background noise creating better sound reproduction.
Customized According to a User
Digital hearing aids are customized as per an individual’s level of hearing loss. Once a person has been tested and the level of reduction in volume has been diagnosed the hearing aid from a distance is then programmed to automatically adjust noise and volume levels as per the environment to give the wearer the best possible experience.
Types of Hearing Aids
There are multiple types of hearing aids in the market with different designs. Let’s take a look at those options.
Behind the Ear
Behind the ear hearing aids are comprised of a hard plastic casing that is worn behind the ear that is connected to a plastic earmold placed inside the outer ear. All the electrical components are housed within the casing where the sound is captured, amplified, and transferred to the earmold. This device is suitable for age groups and is recommended for anyone facing mild to advanced hearing loss.
In the Ear
This is a discreet option as the device fits completely inside the outer ear and is recommended for all cases of mild to severe hearing loss. Some devices may also come with a telecoil—a small magnetic coil that enables the device to receive sound through the circuitry rather than the microphone. This technology makes talking over the telephone much easier compared to a BTE (Behind the Ear) device. However, the casings on an in-the-ear device need to be replaced every time te ear grows; therefore, it’s not widely recommended for young children.
Canal
This type of hearing aid fits right into the ear canal and is available in two different varieties: The in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-canal (CIC). While the former is custom-made as per the shape and size of the wearer; the latter is designed to fit any ear and is hidden in the ear canal.
