HEARING AIDS

digital hearing aid (1)

Tips for communicating with people suffering from hearing loss:

Make sure that you speak at a normal pace and don't over exaggerate lip movements. It makes them difficult to understand.
If a loop system is available, inform the person. For more information click here.
If a hearing aid user also lip reads (not all deaf people lip read, and if they do, it is still not 100% accurate even for the best lip reader) help the person by ensuring that you look at them whilst you speak, that your hair is not in your face, that your face is clearly visible to the person i.e. no colars or hands obstructing your mouth. And don't try to eat and talk at the same time
Make sure that any bright lights are shining on your face and not the person you are trying to communicate with. This will make your face easier to see.
Lip reading can be tiring for long periods, so if you are going to be talking for a while take short breaks
Lip reading through glass screens, for example at the post office can be incredibly difficult. If possible, arrange to consult with the person in a setting without the glass screen. If not, try communicating by writing notes.
Shouting louder will not help a profoundly deaf person hear you. This sounds stupid, but trying to communicate by amplifying your voice, whether it be shouting or by using a microphone will be of no benefit to the vast majority of deaf people and is not only useless, but also embarrassing.
Do not use overly sophisticated language. If a deaf person’s first language is BSL then they will not be able to understand you. Also, long, unfamiliar words are extremely difficult to lip read.
Be patient and prepared to repeat some of the things you say.
If a deaf person does not lip read, then try writing things down. If this fails, use diagrams and picture representations.
If addressing more than one person at once, ensure that your face is completely visible by everyone who needs to see you.
If you can sign make sure that you are wearing appropriate clothing. Highly patterned clothes can obscure signs or make communication more tiring.

WHO BENEFITS FROM A HEARING AID????

A common misconception is that hearing aids are designed for the sole purpose of making deaf people hearing; when in fact not only people with hearing loss may benefit from their use, but also people with related complaints such as tinnitus and balance disorders. What is more, hearing aids do not restore hearing- they simply amplify sound, which may not always be effective when trying to remedy deafness. For example some profoundly deaf people will never be able to hear regardless of how loud a hearing aid may be able to amplify the sound. In addition, individuals suffering from milder forms of deafness who benefit from a hearing aid may still not be able to understand spoken word. For these individuals the hearing aid may be used to gain a sense of orientational sound i.e. traffic noise, or may be used to aid balance.

It is also important to remember that hearing aids amplify all sounds. Therefore, a hearing aid user who uses a hearing aid to aid reception of spoken communication may have difficulty in picking up conversation if there is lots of background noise.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEARING AID

If it is decided that an individual will benefit from using a hearing aid, there is then the question of which model of hearing aid is most appropriate and will be the most effective.

Firstly there are two main class of hearing aid: analogue and digital. To look at a hearing aid it is not immediately obvious which class that it belongs to, but the mechanisms of function differ dramatically.

ANALOGUE

"Traditional" hearing aids are of this type. The term "analogue" means that they use conventional electronics. In these aids a microphone picks up sound, which is amplified using transistors, and is then reproduced by a miniature loudspeaker (receiver).Many analogue aids incorporate some form of Automatic Gain Control (AGC) or compression system which can give a lot of amplification for weak sounds while preventing loud sounds from becoming uncomfortably loud. Sometimes, the AGC operates independently in two or more frequency ranges, called "bands" or "channels". This can be advantageous for a person whose amount of hearing loss varies with frequency. (9)

DIGITAL

Digital hearing aids are much more modern and therefore expensive than analogue aids. In a digital hearing aid, as in digital form, numbers are used to represent the electrical signals generated in the hearing aid from sound. (9)The digital signals are then converted back to analogue form and sent to the receiver (in some aids the digital signal is sent directly to a special receiver). This makes it possible to process the sound in ways that would be difficult or impossible with analogue aids. Digital hearing aids may include several features that are not found in analogue aids, such as systems for reducing feedback (the irritating whilsting noise that occurs when the sound generated by the aid leaks back to the aid microphone)and also reduces the volume of constant background sound.(9) One of the great advantages of digital aids is that they can easily be adjusted to suid the individual. However, one problem (that is normally not noticeable) that may arise is that digital hearing aids introduce a slight delay in the sound, approximatelty 1-10 milliseconds. This may be evident if a person wears only one hearing aid, as both ears would recieve the same sound at different times, hence, it is recommended that digital aids are fitted to both ears. (9)

When an individual is being fitted with a hearing aid, there is more to consider than just whether an analogue or digital hearing aid is most appropriate: the model of hearing aid most suited must also be chosen. The following hearing aids are available in both analogue and digital models (except some of the body worn models):

Behind-the-ear hearing aids

When most people think about what a hearing aid looks like this type is probably what they will think of first. These aids consist of an ear mould which sits inside the ear, the aid itself which rests behind the ear and the plastic tube connects it to the earmould. They are the most common types of hearing aid. Most NHS hearings aids are of this type though they can also be purchased privately. Some people may also wish to have these aids attached to the arms of their glasses.

This is the outer part of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. (the ear mould has been removed) (2)

In-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

These hearing aids have no parts sitting behind the ear but may fill the entire external region of the ear and so may still be visible side-on (though some of the smallest in-the-canal aids (completely in the canal aids (CIC))fit invisibly in the ear), and on the whole in-the-ear models need more repairations than behind-the-ear models. Smaller variations of ITE hearing aids may only fill a small part of the external ear. However severe hearing loss and very small ear canals are two factors that may make these aids unsuitable. This type of aid is not avaiable through the NHS everywhere in England, however, they are widely avaiable through private dispensers.

Completely in the ear - Smallest of the in the ear hearing aids. Fits completely in the ear out of sight. Suitable for mild to moderate hearing losses. (1)

Canal in the ear hearing aid- Small in the ear hearing aid designed for mild upto severe hearing losses. (2) (2)

Full Shell inthe ear hearing aid- Full in the ear hearing aid suitable for mild and severe hearing losses. (1)

Body-worn hearing aids

Many of the old-fashioned hearing aids were of this style but they are less common today. They consist of earmoulds, an earphone and a small box that is either clipped to or put in the pocket of clothes of hung around the neck. These are the most powerful hearing aids owing to their size and are best suited to people with visual problems and/or severe hearing loss. They are widely available both privately and on the NHS. (9)

Bone conduction (bone anchored) hearing aids

Bone conduction hearing aids are for people with conductive hearing loss or people who cannot wear a conventional hearing aid; this may be due to absence or malformed ears or if they have a disease that causes their ears regularly discharge (which would clog a hearing aid). These aids are a fairly recent development and deliver sound through the skull by vibrations transmitting sound through the bones of the skull to the nerves of the inner ear. The aid is attached to a small titanium screw which is drilled into the mastoid bone behind the ear. The operation is quite simple, takes about 30 minutes in total, and is carried out under local anaesthetic. Following the operation the screw is left for 3 months. This allows the bone to grow back and in doing so it firmly locks the screw in place. After this a plastic socket is attached. The bone anchored hearing aid fits onto this, and can be easily removed for sleeping or bathing. (9)

CROS/BiCROS hearing aids

CROS/BiCROS hearing aids are for people with hearing in one ear only. CROS hearing aids pick up sound from the side with no hearing and feed it to the better ear. BiCROS aids amplify sound from both sides and feed it into the ear that has some hearing. (9)

Disposable hearing aids

Disposable hearing aids are only suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. They can be thrown away and replaced with a new one when the battery runs out, usually after 10 weeks. You can buy them from some branches of Boots, the high street chemist. They cost from £26 a month for one aid. (9)

Hearing aids can be used in conjunction with loop systems if they have a switch with a 'T' option.

Once in the 'T' position the hearing aid will only recieve sound that is picked up by a specific microphone. If, for example, the loop system was in a bank, then the bank employee would have the microphone in front of them and so the hearing aid user would be able to hear them speak much more clearly (as background noise will have been filtered out).