Hearing technology has come a long way and for consumers there are many choices. The style or form factor can vary greatly, but the way the hearing aid works is similar. There are basically four important components: the microphone, amplifier, speaker or receiver, and battery.
All hearing aids are equipped with at least one microphone which picks up speech and other sounds in the environment. The microphone provides volume, making sounds easier to hear. An amplifier sends this information to a speaker. The receiver or speaker has the important job of sending the amplified signal to your ear. A battery provides the power that makes it all work.
These components are only part of the picture. Your ears and brain have the biggest job to interpret what’s heard and this is where things can get complicated. Making things louder is the easy part. Clarity or understanding comes from within and is unique to each set of ears.
Your hearing nerve and neurons have the job of receiving and sending information to the brain. The brain interprets this data. With a loss of hearing, the pathways are damaged and these details may not be perceived as clear. Damage to the hearing nerve is irreversible. It can be like listening through a frayed wire on a radio. When there is a problem with the way your brain interprets information, this is something that can be improved.
A hearing aid is a piece of finely crafted electronics. It’s of considerable value to measure what’s heard based on a reliable hearing evaluation. Keep in mind that the hearing aid is only part of the picture. There’s also work to be done in retraining your brain. It’s our job to make sure that no steps are missed. The goal is to get you hearing your best. We’d love to meet you.