Hearing Aid Devices are Tiny Yet Offer Greater Sound Amplification & Less Distortion
Cory Soal, RHAD
Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser
Hearing loss is as individual as a fingerprint. Generally, its progression is so slow that it remains undetected until it has become a real concern. Like any other medical problem, early detection of hearing impairment is important. A proper and thorough hearing test is crucial not only for purposes of diagnosis--it is key to determining what type of hearing aid technology will be the most suitable for a patient.
With the advent of micro-technology, hearing aids have become greatly improved. It is now possible to place more circuitry in a smaller package. Hearing aids can be fitted far into the ear canal and have internal controls that automatically adjust in extreme noise conditions.
First and foremost, a successful fitting of a hearing aid is dependent upon a complete hearing evaluation. A proper hearing test consists of the following components: Pure Tone Air and Bone Conduction tests, Speech Reception Threshold tests, and Speech Discrimination testing. The more accurately hearing is evaluated, the more suitable is the prescription for a hearing aid. There are two important concerns when selecting a hearing instrument. Firstly, the patient must be comfortable with the size of the hearing aid chosen: a patient can be fitted with a Behind-The-Ear (BTE), In-The-Ear (ITE), or the smallest hearing aid that fits Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC).
