Hearing Aids and Hearing Loss

Though hearing loss is an important issue among many of the worlds aging populations, there are a number of hearing aids that have been developed to address the problem, often with nearly invisible and quite amazing results. They have come a long way since the ear trumpets used by your grandmother’s grandmother and the bulky, belt attached and battery operated systems prevalent 30 years ago. Today’s hearing aids are slim, wireless, and responsive to environmental surroundings as well as having amazing sound clarity.

Finding the right aid is important for both the young and old and there are a number of different options to suit the smallest growing babies to old timers on Medicare or other state medicine services. There are aids for people with nearly complete hearing loss and ones that are perfectly suited for those who are less hearing impaired.

Today’s world is noisier than ever with thousands of sounds competing for attention. Car noise, construction, even music can damage the delicate structure of the ear which does not repair itself in the same way as other parts of the body. Over time, everyone experiences hearing loss, the extent however, varies from person to person but is largely due to environmental damage from repeated exposure to sounds over 85dB.

Computerized hearing and speech aids are becoming more common every day as their functionality increases. Some systems allow a completely deaf person to hear through vibrations directed to a metal implant near the ear by the base of the skull, and brain recognition software is allowing mute people to speak through a synthesized voice. These advancements are also allowing quadriplegics to speak and communicate in these same ways. Technology has come a long way in health care. Electric wheelchairs are main stream and manual wheelchairs are becoming a thing of the past.

There are many different types of digital hearing aids, from body worn aids, to completely digital aids with speaker and receiver hidden completely in the ear. Some are deep in the ear canal making them almost completely invisible, while others are designed to expand and grow with the child or teenager. Look for these devices to become even more specialized and expandable, it is only a matter of time until these will be able to link up to the internet and be able to speak text and information, even play music. It may not just be those with hearing loss that will be interested in these hearing aids. Health is a growing concern as we age. If you or someone you know, has diabetes, go to ocresearch.com, for Utah diabetes research for helpful information.

 

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