The advent of hearing loss can be frightening and life changing. However, it does not have to be debilitating, as there are many products available to either correct or aid you. When you are looking for help, understand that you have choices.

There is a surgical procedure called a Cochlear Implant surgery. This device is implanted in your ear canal to convert sound information received from a microphone to a signal that stimulates the hearing nerve. Thus the brain reacts as if you are hearing normally. This procedure is usually only for the significantly hearing impaired, such as those born with a hearing defect or because of a massive injury. This is a costly surgery and is not available in Kitsap County, but it is in Seattle. The risks are the same as other major surgeries that require the use of general anesthesia.

A more common way to help correct hearing loss is the use of hearing aids. There are several different types each having a specific benefit. One of the most common, In-The-Ear (ITE), fits on the outside of the ear and is made of hard plastic. The internal components are housed in this piece of plastic. This tool is for mild to severe hearing loss.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) is a good choice for children because the hearing aid does not need to be replaced as the child grows. The compartment that receives and amplifies sound rests behind the ear. After amplified, the sound is sent to an earpiece in the ear canal. This type of hearing aid is for mild to profound hearing loss.

In-The-Canal (ITC) is fitted entirely in the ear. This is good for aesthetic reasons as it is barely visible or noticeable. The main drawbacks of an ITC are that it is hard to adjust and feedback can be a common occurrence. An ITC is used for moderate to sever hearing loss.

If your hearing loss is profound, a body aid paired with a hearing aid can improve the amount that is heard. The body aid’s components are housed in a box connected to the hearing aid by a wire. The box can hold more components than a standard hearing aid in its casing so the sound it produces is of a higher quality. A body aid is usually used for only profound hearing and only when other options don’t work as well.

The final option is an ALD (Assistive Listening Devices). These are used in places were there are large crowds and only a few people need assistance to hear more clearly. If you go to a movie theater you can usually request a set of headphones. They have, what is called, a personal FM system, which is in effect a small radio station. These are limited to a small area and you can only hear what the owner chooses to broadcast. There are also Infrared systems, which broadcast sound using light waves.

If you go to a museum and rent a headset with prerecorded voice on it, you are listening to an Induction Loop System. This system can be used in many other situations. Also there are two-way radios that can be used in a noisy environment.
The most important piece of technology is the components. Digital hearing aids are the most effective for interpreting sounds and enhancing the quality so that you can hear them. There are also analog hearing aids, but that is old technology and it’s still expensive. Digital technology offers numerous options. There are three main digital categories — high, which can run as high as $5,900; mid, priced at around $4,390; and starter, which begin at around $899 and can go to around $3,200.

The high allows the greatest amount of flexibility so your specific needs can be met. It allows background noises to automatically be quieted so you can hear what is most important to you. It also has directional sensors so that when you are in a public setting and there are lots of speaking voices, the ones in front of you will be recognized as most important to amplify.

When you use mid or starter digital the automation is what is reduced. So that when you enter a restaurant for example, you must manually change the settings. Also the circuitry is not as advanced so some sounds are not as amplified as others.

A new piece of technology will soon be on the market — a digital hearing aid so fully automated that the two hearing aids are connected, and when you change a setting on one, the other follows. It has larger circuit capable of reducing unwanted sounds, making what is most important easier to hear.

Hearing technology is improving at such a rapid pace that it’s only a matter of time before the pricing is within reach of most people. For more information, visit any one of the several audiologists located on the Kitsap Peninsula.