Hearing aids - What you need to know

Hearing aids are the primary solution for hearing loss that cannot be treated medically or surgically. Modern hearing care has come a long way in terms of improving hearing health-related quality of life. Hearing technology today provide sophisticated sound processing and many customizeable features, such as smartphone apps that connect directly to your devices.

What are hearing aids used for?

Hearing aids are one of the most common treatment recommendations for people with hearing loss, especially the kind caused by aging or noise exposure.

They are not a cure-all and will not fully restore your hearing to normal, but they will help you hear better in all sorts of settings, from quiet to noisy. 

How do hearing aids work?

In simple terms, hearing aids contain three parts: 1) A microphone to detect sounds, 2) a processor (basically a tiny computer) that figures out which sounds to amplify, and 3) a speaker that sits in the ear to deliver those sounds. They are powered by either disposable hearing aid batteries or rechargeable batteries. 

Hearing aids are custom-fit and custom-programmed to amplify sounds to address a person's unique hearing loss.

For example, if a person struggles to hear high-pitched sounds, the hearing aid is programmed to amplify those sounds more (and to a very specific degree).

In many cases, the wearer can also adjust the hearing aids using an app and can add special custom settings if they want more control over the amplification.

Many hearing aid options

There are many different types and styles of hearing aids on the market in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colours, prices and performance levels.

Your hearing care professional can help you review and compare hearing aids, and will explain the different systems and their benefits—guiding you toward the hearing aid models that are best suited to your hearing needs, lifestyle and personal preferences.

Types of hearing aids

There are many types and styles of hearing aids, but the two main categories include behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE).

Behind-the-ear (BTE)

The majority of hearing aid users choose a behind-the-ear model, especially people with mild to moderate hearing loss of high-frequency sounds. These are often referred to as either RITE (receiver in the ear) or RIC (receiver in canal).

By not fully blocking the ear, this style lets other sounds still enter the ear, such as low-frequency sounds.

Although mostly external, these are light, small and almost unnoticeable on the ear. They come in a variety of colours and flesh tones.

BTE hearing aids usually come with many high-tech and advanced features and tend to offer the best sound quality compared to other types.

In-the-ear (ITE)

ITE hearing aids are contained within a single unit that is custom-designed for the ear. They range in size from the smallest IIC (invisible in-the-canal) to a slightly larger CIC (completely-in-the-canal) to a full shell ITE (in-the-ear).

The size and style available to you depends on the size of your ear canal and the level of your hearing loss. If you are able to use the smallest IIC style, it is extremely discreet. The larger custom products are usually more flexible for people with significant hearing loss and can be easier to insert.

The choice of hearing aid styles and features is based on several factors including, the exact type of hearing loss, your communication requirements, lifestyle, manual dexterity and your medical and audiological history and related findings.

Special features for hearing aids

Several features are available to improve your experience. The most common are:

• Directional microphones that enhance speech understanding in noise and reduce the impact of background noise
• Noise management to improve listening comfort in noisy environments
• Feedback cancellation to alleviate the annoyance of whistling or buzzing when the microphone gets to close to the speaker
• Programs and remote controls to access sound from phones, TVs and other devices
• Tinnitus masking tools for people who have ringing in the ears
• Cutting-edge hearing aids come with artificial intelligence and deep neural networks
• Wireless capabilities to transfer sound between ears and connect to Bluetooth devices for hands free calling and streaming
• Rechargeable hearing aid batteries for a listening experience with fewer interruptions

Do you need one or two hearing aids?

If you have hearing loss in both ears, your hearing care professional will recommend two hearing aids. Two provide superior benefits for the majority of people, allowing for better word recognition in quiet and noisy backgrounds, quality of sound, ability to determine the direction from which sound is coming and an overall more natural hearing experience.

Research has also shown that when both ears are candidates for hearing aids and only one ear is fitted, the unaided ear may lose speech recognition ability more rapidly than the fitted ear, according to a review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

Do you need hearing aids? Get a hearing test near you.

The first step is a hearing test given by a qualified hearing professional. A hearing loss clinic near you may offer free hearing tests for adults. Your hearing professional will then discuss hearing loss treatments with you.

If hearing aids are recommended, they must be fitted appropriately. They should also amplify sounds so they can be heard comfortably without causing discomfort, and must be secure and physically comfortable in the ear.

The hearing aids are adjusted using a computer in the hearing care professional’s office, known as a calibration, and the results can be measured.

Keep in mind that the quiet nature of a hearing clinic often does not represent the variety of sounds heard in everyday life, so your new hearing aids will need to be evaluated in the sound environments most important to you, which can always be done later on.

Your hearing care provider will help you understand what your new hearing aids are capable of, teach you how to use them and work with you to get the best hearing possible.

Your hearing care professional may also suggest specific assistive listening devices to supplement the hearing aids and to address specific complaints. 

Proper care and maintenance

Hearing aids require frequent cleaning, though this is a quick process. Your hearing care professional will discuss and demonstrate proper daily care as well as maintenance techniques and maintenance products. The hearing aid user’s manual will review much of this information as a convenient reference handbook.

Given the hostile conditions (temperature extremes, high levels of humidity, perspiration and earwax) under which hearing aids operate, they may need occasional maintenance or replacement parts. Proper care reduces the need for repair.

Every once in a while, book an appointment at your hearing clinic for professional hearing aid cleaning and maintenance as well. 

Your hearing care professional will review with you the details of your hearing aid repair warranty, loss and damage protection, service protocols, maintenance advice as well as introductory periods and return policies.

How long will it take to get used to hearing aids? 

If you're not happy with how they're working in some settings, talk to your hearing care provider. They can likely adjust your hearing aids or give you custom settings. For example, if you're a music lover, a music setting can be a huge help. 

Your hearing care provider will recommend a schedule for you to help you get used to your new hearing aids. Unlike eyeglasses, hearing aids generally take days to weeks to get used to, known as the adjustment period.

If you had untreated hearing loss for a long time, this process may take even longer. That's because your brain needs time to adapt and learn how to process all the new noises into recognizable sounds. While it can be a hurdle, this is very good for your brain in the long run!

Because your hearing environment is unique, a daily journal is useful, especially in the first few weeks and months with your new hearing aids.

If you're not happy with how they're working in some settings, talk to your hearing care provider. They can likely adjust your hearing aids or give you custom settings. For example, if you're a music lover, a music setting can be a huge help. 

Have realistic expectations

Even with the best and newest technology, it is important to maintain realistic expectations. While hearing instruments make sounds easier to hear, they will not restore normal hearing.

Hearing aids re-introduce you to a world of sound, and it takes time to become accustomed to the new sounds. Some people adjust quickly, others take longer. Your hearing specialist will discuss auditory training programs, communication strategies and assistive listening devices to alleviate difficulties. 

Don’t worry if you find that it takes you a little while to get used to your new hearing aids. This is perfectly normal. They will bring big changes to your life, and big changes take a bit of getting used to.

Do you need hearing aids?

If you are ready to find out if hearing aids are the solution for your specific hearing loss, our hearing healthcare professionals can help. Visit our directory to find a hearing aid store near you.