Hearing Problems and the Hearing Aid Technology

Author: rebeccakavel | Posted: 16.04.2012

Like vision, hearing also becomes progressively impaired with age, but there are numerous other disorders that can result in hearing loss. While hearing loss can affect old people, it can also cause young people with childhood conditions to suffer. In other instances, otherwise physically fit people suffer regular hearing loss because of trauma or disease.

There are three main types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss happens because of impairment coming from external causes like dangerous things in the ear, deposition of earwax, or treatable perforated eardrums and benign tumors. Sensorineural hearing loss happens because of damage in the auditory nerves or inner ear. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of these two. For example, an old person who currently has problems in discerning words may also be experiencing perforated eardrums.

Otitis media is a condition categorized as conductive hearing loss. Also treated an ear infection, otitis media typically afflicts kids, which include babies. Family members may notice an infection when the kid grabs the ear and cries often due to the pain. Hearing loss happens when the middle ear becomes so inflamed that sound cannot be carried all the way through to the inner ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss happens because of damage to the inner ear as well as illnesses, head injury, loud noises, and aging. Tinnitus is a notable condition that medical health professionals describe as a symptom of a variety of conditions or injuries instead of an illness in itself. Described by sufferers as "ringing in the ears," tinnitus can take place because of lasting exposure to loud sounds, head trauma, or temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ.

Hearing aids are tools that can assist people who have hearing loss hear more clearly. However, hearing aids do not treat their hearing difficulty. A hearing aid captures sounds and amplifies the sounds to help the wearer discern different sounds so s/he can converse better.

People who need listening devices for the hearing-impaired must first consult their doctors so they can select the appropriate hearing aid. Hearing aid accessories vary based on the fit and use in or on the ear. Additionally, an audiologist can help a person to find an ideal hearing aid with the important accessories included.

There are hearing aids accessories that are appropriate for telephones and mobile phones. These tools help people to hear more clearly and to enhance device features such as volume control, ringer volume adjustment, and reduced static. Vibrate notifications are available in many compatible smartphones. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has more information on hearing loss and listening devices for the hearing-impaired at ASHA.org.

Article was printed from http://www.articleside.com/health-articles/hearing-problems-and-the-hearing-aid-technology.htm
Click here to return original format