One day while walking thru the streets of the city of Trivandrum, I saw this advert in front of an electronic shop who sells all sorts of electrical goods from washing machine to watches.
Being curious I went inside, the salesman at the counter where they kept the hearing aids, mainly old Body worn hearing aids are exhibited. He explained the “technology” behind it, how it works and how much discount on purchase. He even did a free trial in my ear, which nearly ruptured my ear drum at a very high volume. It was a funny but eye opener experience. This prompted me write a post about Hearing Aids.
About Hearing Aids
Hearing Aids have come a long way from the primitive ear trumpets of the past to tiny digital canal aid.
The Ear Trumpet was about as basic as it gets. Designed with an appearance alike a trumpet, the user would simply put the small end of the apparatus into their ear and aim the horn at the targeted sound. It is no wonder having a hearing aid used to be an embarrassing experience.
Today\’s hearing aids provide those in need of hearing assistance with a cosmetically appealing device that is easy to use that utilizes highly innovative technology to provide better hearing experience. We are lucky to be the benefactors of these advancements from those early hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Technology
With digital technology, a computer chip converts the incoming sound into digital code, then analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. The result is sound that’s more finely tuned to your hearing loss. Digital hearing aids are available in all styles and price ranges.
Hearing aids do come in a number of styles, which differ in size and the way they’re placed in your ear. Some are small enough to fit inside your ear canal, making them almost invisible. Others fit partially in your ear canal. Generally, the smaller a hearing aid is, the less powerful it is, the shorter its battery life and the more it will cost.
The following are common hearing aid styles.
Completely in the canal
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
In the canal
An in-the-canal hearing aid is custom molded and fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
Half-shell
A smaller version of the in-the-canal hearing aid, the half-shell is custom molded and fills the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
In the ear (full-shell)
An in-the-ear (full-shell) hearing aid is custom made and fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss.
Behind the ear
Behind-the-ear hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages.
Open fit
These are usually very small behind-the-ear-style devices, although larger behind-the-ear devices can be modified for a more “open” fit. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they’re best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.
Before Buying the Hearing Aid:
Many of the hard of hearing people feel they were not informed about important available options before selecting a hearing aid. Hearing impairments due to nerve deafness affect a tenth of the population; hearing aids could help 90 percent of that group. Having many types of hearing aid available in the market, you’re likely to find one that’s right for you.
- First of all see an ENT Surgeon, get the ears examined. The surgeon will find out the cause of the hearing loss, whether treatable by medicine or surgery or advice a hearing aid, whether it is nerve deafness or conductive deafness.
- Get an audiogram: Arrange to have your hearing tested by an audiologist
- Ask your doctor to refer you to a licensed hearing aid specialist, who will help you select a device based on how well you can hear, what your lifestyle is like, and what you can afford.
Hearing Aids Available in Trivandrum
There are good quality hearing aids available here in Trivandrum, like   Siemens Beltone, Oticon. Phonac, Widex and Starkey. One can select any one they like depends upon how much they can afford.
For More Details:
Dr.K.O.Paulose FRCS DLO, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Jubilee Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. www.drpaulose.com  www.snorefreesleep.com
For Appointment- call 0471, 2334561, 2334564, 0471 3080300 Fax-0471-2330925
Email: drpaulose@yahoo.com Web: http://www.jubileehospital.org/
To Reach Jubilee Hospital: jubileehospitaltrivandrum
To know more about Jubilee Hospital, Please read: jubileehospitaltvm jubileehospital
Please Read to Know More About Hearing Aid: Hearing Aid in TVM
