Johns Hopkins Health Alert
What Works for Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss?
The National Institutes of Health estimates that only 1 in 5 people who need a hearing aid gets one. Resistance to hearing aids remains high, partly because of their perceived stigma. Many people who try hearing aids are also disappointed by the quality of sound. Fortunately, hearing aid technology is always advancing to better meet patients’ needs. Johns Hopkins specialist Dr. Charles Limb reviews your hearing aid options and offers advice.
Hearing aids help by amplifying sound. With the proliferation of digital technology, new hearing aids can do a lot more in a smaller package. Compared with older “analog” models, new digital hearing aids are less conspicuous. They also have more sophisticated, programmable features like noise reduction and automatic adjustment to different environments.
However, one simple rule still holds true for hearing aids: The smaller the device, the less amplification it has. Some people with moderate to severe hearing loss find that small digital devices simply do not have enough power. Of course, louder does not always mean clearer. For people who still hear low-pitched sounds well, amplification can create a “muddle” if these low-pitched sounds become too loud. A digital hearing aid that can be programmed for specific frequencies is a good choice if you can still hear certain pitches reasonably well.
“The type of aid that is best for each person depends entirely on the pattern of hearing loss,” explains Charles Limb, M.D., Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “The more complex the nature of hearing loss, the more useful a programmable digital device will be. Someone with selective hearing loss at middle-range frequencies, for instance, would benefit from a digital hearing aid because it can be set to correct for the specific frequency."
“People who don’t benefit from digital or traditional analog hearing aids can consider a bone-anchored hearing aid, or baha,” adds Dr. Limb. Abaha is a titanium device that is implanted behind the earlobe and transmits sound through the bone, thus bypassing any damage in the middle ear. “It can be extremely helpful for people who are deaf in one ear or have conductive hearing loss -- when sound is not adequately transmitted through the ear canal owing to a blockage like the buildup of scar tissue.”
Bottom-line advice: If you are buying a hearing aid for the first time, see an audiologist, who is trained to test your hearing. This specialist will provide follow-up testing and hearing-aid adjustments to make sure the device is functioning well for you. And do not put off another visit to an audiologist or otolaryngologist if you think that your hearing aid is not meeting your needs. Medical evaluations are essential to get the best results.
Posted in Healthy Living on July 2, 2008
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
Notify Me
Would you like us to inform you when we post new Healthy Living Health Alerts?
Comments
Health Alerts registered users may post comments and share experiences here at their own discretion. We regret that questions on individual health concerns to the Johns Hopkins editors cannot be answered in this space.
The views expressed here do not constitute medical advice, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins Medicine or Remedy Health Media, LLC, which has no responsibility for any comments posted on this site.
affordability is the main problem for so many people I know with hearing loss. Is there any help available? What good is all this technology when so many people can't afford to benefit from it?
Posted by: kesselmills | July 5, 2008 11:06 AM
Let's assume cost is not an issue. Hearing is so important I will find a way to pay for what works. How does one find an audiologist (1)that knows which brands (types) of hearing aids work for different problems as well as (2)is not influenced by the various "rewards" manufacturers give for certain levels of sales? I know perfection is impossible, I am just want to find a "professional".
Posted by: cepley | July 6, 2008 8:58 AM
Your hearing is your most important sense. If you find a reputable audiologist, s/he will work with you to find an appropriate aid for you, whether your concerns are cosmetic or price. There are agencies that can help. If you consider the price of hearing aids and how long they last, the expense is really not that great. To find a "professional," you can look at the American Academy of Audiology website at audiology.org or the American Speech Language Hearing Association website at asha.org.
Posted by: Dr J | July 7, 2008 9:26 PM
There was a very economical hearing aid available online called Birdsong. It was quickly bought out and made unavailable by a larger company that sells the more expensive type. Sad but true.
Posted by: Jeni | July 9, 2008 10:24 AM
Post a Comment
Already a subscriber?
Login
New to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts?
It is not so much the "stigma" of wearing a hearing aid, it is the cost. If a hearing aid would help, who would care what anybody else thought? I simply can't afford it
Posted by: jogray | July 5, 2008 10:42 AM