Experts refer to hearing aids as acoustic aids or medical devices that are used to compensate for a partial hearing loss in people. Because this approach also achieves increased social inclusion for those with hearing loss, health insurance companies in Germany usually cover the cost of a customized hearing aid.
What is a hearing aid?
Hearing aids come in different designs. The most common models are usually analog behind-the-ear devices. Hearing loss and hearing impairment can be compensated with them. They make everyday life much easier for hearing-impaired people. A hearing aid is a special device that amplifies sounds in the ear. It enables hearing-impaired people to hear better and more clearly and to participate in everyday life. Depending on the degree of hearing loss and the type of damage, different models can be used. Each hearing aid must be individually fitted by the acoustician, otherwise optimal function cannot be guaranteed. Nowadays, hearing aids have very complex electronics and can still be kept very small, so that they are often barely visible. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of acceptance in society, which means that by no means every hearing-impaired person wears such an acoustic aid.
Forms, types and styles
Hearing aids come in a wide variety of designs. They are roughly divided into two groups. So-called behind-the-ear devices are worn behind the auricle, as the name already makes clear. These amplify the sound with the aid of an earpiece that has a sound tube. Since these models have a relatively large amount of space for the electronics, multiple amplification can take place, and the function of the individual device can be customized to the hearing loss. In contrast, in-the-ear devices lie completely in the ear canal of the affected person. This makes them visually very inconspicuous, but also requires a certain size or width of the ear canal to accommodate all the electronics of the small devices inside.
Structure, function and mode of action
The structure of a hearing aid depends largely on which model is used or which device can optimally compensate for the individual hearing loss. Basically, however, almost all hearing aids consist of the smallest possible technical device that amplifies sound. An accumulator or battery supplies the device with the necessary power (this must be renewed regularly). Each hearing aid first picks up the sound and converts it into an amplified electrical impulse, which in turn is transmitted to the ear. Analog devices work on the basis of a transistor, for example, while digital devices function like a small computer. If a behind-the-ear device is worn, a curved housing with the amplifier is located behind the ear of the affected person. A sound tube connects this to the earpiece, which is worn in the ear canal. In-the-ear devices require only a usually much smaller housing, which is located completely in the ear canal. However, this almost completely closes off the ear canal, which can cause sufferers to perceive their own voice as unnatural, for example.
Medical and health benefits
First and foremost, hearing aids serve the purpose of compensating for a partial mild to severe hearing loss and partially or even completely restoring the affected person’s hearing ability. In technical terminology, they therefore belong not only to the acoustic aids, but also to the so-called medical devices. Since hearing and the closely related ability to speak are essential factors in human coexistence, improving hearing has a social component in addition to the purely medical aspect. Hearing loss often means a certain form of isolation, since interaction of the kind that normally takes place between people is only possible to a limited extent. A hearing aid enables hearing-impaired people to hear better and more clearly and to participate in everyday life. This affects seniors in particular, as hearing ability often declines with age, but young people can also suffer from hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid gives them the opportunity to participate in everyday life, establish social contacts and find their place in the job market.However, the prerequisite is that the hearing aid has been professionally fitted and also undergoes regular professional maintenance. Only then can it be ensured that the sensitive device takes no damage and can perform its function optimally in any situation.
