Hearing Aids Key Terms

Understand these hearing aids key terms to further your knowledge on hearing aids

Hearing aids--available in different styles and sizes--amplify sound for people with hearing loss. From analog and digital styles of hearing aids to adjustable and programmable types, an audiologist can fit you with the appropriate hearing aid for your unique need.

Not every hearing aid is right for every patient. People who suffer from minor hearing difficulties would benefit from less invasive hearing aids such as behind-the-ear models, while patients with significant deafness can try cochlear implants, a more aggressive hearing aid option. Learn more about hearing aids with these key terms.

 

Audiologist

An audiologist is a professional who uses specialized instruments to test levels of hearing in an individual. The tests measure hearing loss and are useful to determine what types of hearing aids may be the most beneficial to restore hearing in the patient. An audiologist can fit the appropriate hearing aid and help the patient adjust the hearing aid for optimum results.
Try: online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/29-1121.00 offers information on the educational background and job description of audiologists.

Analog vs. digital

An analog programmable hearing aid has settings that can be programmed to adapt to different environments for optimum hearing. An audiologist can program the analog hearing aid customized to your testing results to ensure you receive sounds specific to your unique needs. Digital programmable hearing aids use an embedded computer chip to determine noise and sound and adjust hearing accordingly. Digital hearing aids are more expensive, but produce higher-quality sound.
Try: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers in-depth information on analog and digital types of hearing aids. Hearing Aids Central provides an extensive comparison of analog vs. digital hearing aids.

Behind-the-ear or BTE

BTE or behind-the-ear hearing aids house the microphone, amplifier and speaker parts of a hearing aid in a molded piece that fits on the outside of the ear. BTE hearing aids generally provide the best sound due to larger amplifiers, and this type of hearing aid is usually the best choice for children who suffer from hearing loss.
Try: American Hearing Aid Associates offer more extensive information on behind-the-ear hearing aids.

In-the-ear or ITE

In-the-ear hearing aids are custom fit to the outer ear of the patient. More compact than behind-the-ear hearing aids, ITE hearing aids provide a more concealed method to amplify sound for the hearing impaired. ITE models can use digital or analog technology to program sound ranges specific to each patient.
Try: HearingAidHelp.com offers extended information on ITE hearing aids and the advantages and disadvantages of this specific style.

Middle ear implant

Middle ear implants are hearing aids that are embedded surgically into the middle ear. The middle ear implant consists of three basic parts: the implanted receiver, the transducer and the audio processor, a component worn behind the ear. This type of hearing aid is useful for those with severe hearing loss but normal middle ear function.
Try: The Arkansas Center For Ear Nose Throat And Allergy offers more information on how middle ear implants function and the advantages and disadvantages of this specific type of hearing aid.

Cochlear implant

A cochlear implant is a type of hearing aid that can help to restore hearing in patients who are deaf. Surgically implanted in the inner ear, a cochlear implant does not manipulate or amplify sound; it stimulates sound directly from the nerve.
Try: Hear-it.org offers in-depth information and statistics on cochlear implants.

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