Hearing Aids: Benefits, Types & Who Can Benefit

Hearing aids are small electronic devices that amplify sound for people with hearing loss, which can help restore the quality of life they enjoyed previously.

Background

• Hearing loss can occur as a result of disease, aging or injury. Luckily, hearing aids can help a lot of those people, though an individual must have some hearing ability for them to be effective.

Considerations

• Untreated hearing loss can lead to anxiety, isolation and depression.

Types

• There are three main types of hearing aids: behind-the-ear, in-the-ear and canal. Behind-the-ear hearing aids have a small plastic case worn behind the ear that connects to an ear mold inside the ear. In-the-ear hearing aids are placed entirely inside the outer ear, while canal hearing aids are placed into the ear canal.

Benefits

• Hearing aids can notably improve a person's quality of life by making surrounding noises more audible. This can lead to improved social interaction, better relationships, higher self-esteem and greater independence.

Other Advantages

• Hearing aids can also improve a person's ability to communicate on the telephone and help them enjoy music.