Hearing aids are small electronic devices that a person uses inside or behind the ears. These devices amplify ambient sound and allow people with hearing loss (whether mild or severe) to better hear the sounds around them. Although they do not restore a person’s hearing, they increase the volume of ambient sounds to improve their quality of life.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.5 billion people in the world have some degree of hearing loss. Furthermore, this number is estimated to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050.
Types of hearing loss
Depending on the part of the ear that is damaged, three main types of hearing loss can be distinguished. The first is conductive hearing loss, in which sound waves cannot reach the inner ear due to fluids, infections, objects, or even physical damage that is blocking the ear canal.
The second type is sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when the inner ear is affected by excessively loud sounds, drugs, disease, nerve damage, or aging. Lastly, there is mixed hearing loss, which is a mix of type one and type two.
Also, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in the United States, hearing aids are ideal for helping people who have suffered damage to the sensory cells of the inner ear (that is, the hair cells). This form of hearing loss is usually caused by illness or injury related to noise or certain medications.
How do they amplify the sound?
A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations as they enter the ear, as hair cells (which have survived disease or are healthy) detect the largest vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are transmitted to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss and the greater the amplification of the hearing aid.
However, hearing aids have a limit and cannot magnify sounds indefinitely. Or, put another way, the hair cells may be so damaged that they don’t pick up any sound vibrations , no matter how strong it is.
Smart hearing aids
Today, hearing aids can connect to other devices over the Internet and learn what noises to mute (such as voices in the background in a restaurant or the noise of dishes).
In addition, it is also possible to link the smart hearing aids to mobile phones and GPS, allowing it to remember settings for different locations. They can also stream music and audiobooks, improving the lives of people with hearing loss.
