How Do Hearing Aids Work?

If your doctor has recommend that you see a hearing aid specialist you might be wondering how a hearing aid will be able to help you. Hearing aids come in several different forms, but they all work in a similar way.

The Hearing Aid

Hearing aids have three main parts which work together to boost the volume of the sounds that are reaching your ear:

1. Microphone: a tiny microphone built into the hearing aid will collect all of the sound in your environment and convert it into an electrical signal that can be manipulated by the other parts of the device.

2. Signal Processing Device: the electrical signal will be processed in order to make the sounds louder and clearer for you. Your hearing aid specialist will ensure that these changes are tailored to your needs. Although the way the signal is processed can vary between devices, most modern hearing aids do it using digital technology.

3. Receiver or Earphone: the amplified electrical signal is converted back into sound and transmitted into your ear.

The whole process is performed so quickly that you won’t be aware of any delay. You will hear the modified sound exactly when you would expect it. For example, if someone is speaking to you, then you will hear their voice as you see their lips move.

How Can a Hearing Aid Help You?

Hearing aids can process sound in different ways, but generally they will make them louder and clearer. You might not have perfect hearing and some sounds might not be any clearer when you are using your hearing aids. However, in most cases they will help to make voices easier to understand, both in person and over the telephone. Some hearing aids can also help to reduce background noise and to enhance sounds that come from in front of you as this can make it easier to focus on the sounds you want to hear. Your hearing aid specialist will tell you what to expect from your new hearing aids and how to get the most out of them.