Hearing Aids
When a baby is unable to hear naturally, hearing aids can be fitted to make the baby hear. They are going to be the ears of the baby, empowering to hear, understand, acquire language and speak.
Choosing the correct hearing aids that suit the needs of the baby is an important decision as it goes a long way in helping the baby acquire good spoken language skills.
It is important to note that even though hearing aids help the baby hear, they are not a replacement for natural hearing.
What are Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids are devices that enable hearing speech by amplifying the sounds. A hearing aid has three core parts:
i. Microphone
ii. Amplifier
iii. Speaker
Babies need intensive training to follow sounds coming from the backside. It may need augmentation of lip-reading. Clarity of speech depends on the quality of hearing aid and the age at which hearing device is fitted.
In the advent of digital-programmable hearing aids, babies with hearing loss are able to follow sounds from all directions and also develop good clarity of speech. There may be a difficulty on acquiring more than one language, in case babies’ hearing loss is profound. It is not impossible, but it needs effort and determination to learn a second language.
Adapted from: By RespectCE – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124108146
How do Hearing Aids Work?
Outside sounds are picked up by the microphone of the hearing aid. These sounds are converted into electrical signals which are sent to the computer processor which analyzes the sounds and tries to tell the difference between background noise and speech.
Based on the type and sophistication of the hearing aid, and the specific requirements of the hearing aid user, the processor can try to minimize background noise, add more volume to speech sounds depending on the surroundings (a noisy restaurant, in wind, in a quiet place, while travelling in the car).
The computer processor provides instructions to the amplifier which amplifies the electrical signals based on the hearing needs specific to the hearing aid user.
The amplified sounds are sent by the speaker/receiver into the ear. Depending on the type of the hearing aid, the speaker is present either within the body of the hearing aid device, or is located in the ear canal. In the former, amplified sound is sent from the speaker into the ear canal via the hearing aid tube and receiver (also referred to as the “ear mold”).
Functioning sensory cells, called hair cells, in the inner ear detect these amplified vibrations and convert them into electrical signals which are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve.
The amplification is done the most in the frequencies and volumes which are common to speech. Non-speech sounds with high volume are not, usually, amplified. This is an important feature of the current generation digital-programmable hearing aids.
How to choose the correct Hearing Aid?
The hearing of a person is as unique as fingerprints. Hence, hearing aids have to be programmed to suit the needs of the person.
In order to meet the requirements of profound hearing loss, hearing aids need to have higher processing power.
It is always advisable to meet more than one audiologist and try as many as possible before buying one.
Buy hearing aid(s) that are only suitable for the type of hearing loss and not just that is available.
Hearing aids are made to give importance to speech and reduce non-speech environmental noises.
There are different types or styles of hearing aids:
i. Behind- the-Ear (BTE)
ii. Mini BTE
iii. In-the-ear (ITE)
iv. In-the-canal (ITC)
v. Completely-in-canal (CIC)
Of these, Behind the Ear (BTE) is mostly used for cases of hearing loss in children as they can cater to a wide spectrum of hearing loss, ranging from Moderate to Profound.
Things to know about Hearing Aids
Hearing aid works on battery. A battery usually lasts for 100 hours.
Hearing aid remains in good working condition, if it is kept away from moisture. A hearing aid stays useful for about 7 to 8 years depending on how well it is maintained.
A mold in the shape of ear is required to be connected to the hearing aid for fitting to the ear and efficient functioning.