Hearing loss is not uncommon. More than 500 million people worldwide suffer from some degree of hearing loss. You might be one of them. If you are, a hearing aid can help you regain your hearing so that you can live the life you’re used to. Hearing loss usually develops gradually – so gradually that you don’t notice the loss of these subtle everyday sounds. Before you know it, you could start missing the important sounds in your everyday life, such as the voices of loved ones.
Types and causes of hearing loss
There are many kinds of hearing loss, but most fall into two categories: sensorineural and conductive.
Sensorineural hearing loss
This is the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to your brain. These can bend or break due to:
Exposure to very loud noises Genetic predisposition Virus infections in the inner ear Certain drugs Head injury AgeSensorineural hearing loss is permanent and can’t be corrected medically, but a hearing aid can almost always help.
Conductive hearing loss
This is caused by any blockage that prevents sound reaching the inner ear. This might include:
A build–up of earwax Fluid in the middle ear Middle ear infections Small holes in the eardrumConductive hearing loss is not necessarily permanent and can often be corrected medically or surgically.
Mixed hearing loss
It is possible that you may suffer from both types of hearing loss. This condition is called mixed hearing loss . Mixed hearing loss can be helped with surgery and a hearing aid.
What does hearing loss mean?
Your hearing is measured in a scale of decibels (dB) compared to normal hearing. This scale is used to evaluate whether you have hearing loss, and if so, to what degree. During your hearing examination, your hearing care professional will test your hearing and present the results in an audiogram.
Treating hearing loss
Wearing a hearing aid means rediscovering the pleasure of gathering with friends and family, feeling more confident at work, and enjoying movies, music and TV programs. A hearing aid means living with all of your five senses again. It is better to use hearing aid if you need it. The longer you leave it, the harder it is for your brain to comprehend certain sounds because it no longer hears them every day. A hearing aid prevents this deterioration of your ability to relearn to interpret sounds.
Your hearing professional can tell you whether your hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids, and if so, choose, which type of hearing aids that suit you best.
Modern hearing aids are discreet
Today’s hearing aids are as small, comfortable and attractive as they are powerful and they have limited impact on your appearance. In fact, most people won’t even notice that you’re wearing one.
There are two different categories of hearing aids. One type of hearing aid is the kind that is placed behind the ear with a tube going into the ear. Another is In–the–ear hearing aids are made to fit the contours of your ear canal. Both the varieties have different types of designs.
Hearing aid with iPhone
ReSound LiNX is a mini receiver–in–the–ear hearing aid. It’s worn behind the ear with a thin tube that wraps discreetly along the front and ends with a tiny bud inside your ear. ReSound LiNX™ offers a superior sound experience – setting new performance standards. It is a Made for iPhone® hearing aid with direct sound streaming, and it can be personalized to your every need. you can enjoy high quality sound from iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch through Resound LiNX hearing aids that are also wireless stereo headphones.
The small, slim design lets you hide ReSound LiNX if you want to – or show it off if you’d rather, even if you have a severe hearing loss. Regardless, you’ll experience the fastest chip platform, allows you to hear – and understand – so well and so easily. It is very much easy to use FaceTime video calling to bring far–away loved ones into your living room to listen to the music that moves you on your iPod touch.
Now you can have a child’s voice from across the garden, your favorite TV–show at just the right volume in your hearing aid.
