A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind the ear that makes some sounds louder. It can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy places.
Who they help
Hearing aids help people whose hearing loss comes from damage to the tiny sensory cells of the inner ear. That damage can be caused by disease, by aging, or by injury from noise or from certain medicines.
Types
Hearing aids differ in:
- size;
- where they sit — on the ear or inside it; and
- how much they amplify sound.
Which one works best depends on the kind of hearing loss a person has and how severe it is.
Two ways to get one
| Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids | Prescription hearing aids | |
|---|---|---|
| Where from | Bought directly | From an audiologist, a health professional who specializes in hearing and balance disorders |
| Hearing exam first? | Not required | The audiologist programs the aids for the severity of the hearing loss |
| For whom | Adults with mild to moderate hearing loss | People with significant or complicated hearing loss, who may need prescription aids or other devices |
Sources
Based on "Hearing Aids," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, with information from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The source names the institute as the “National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders”; its full name is used here.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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