A small electronic device fitted into or near the ear, to improve someone’s hearing by making the sounds louder.
An electronic aid used by people with certain kinds of hearing impairment to make sounds louder. The effect of a hearing aid depends on the seriousness and type of the hearing loss.
Electronic device, usually worn in or near the ear, that intensifies sound; it is used to help some people with hearing impairment.
Electronic devices, consisting of four miniature components—a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and battery that bring amplified sound to the ear of a person whose hearing is impaired. On most hearing aids, sound level controls are adjustable. Some hearing aids have directional microphones. For people with profound deafness whose auditory nerves are functional, a surgically implanted device may provide limited sound perception and serve as an aid to lip-reading or may even allow a person to understand while on the telephone.
An electronic device to enable a deaf person to hear, consisting of a miniature sound receiver, an amplifier, and either an earpiece or a vibrator to transfer the amplified sound to the ear. The earpiece fits into the ear; the vibrator (used in cases of conductive deafness) fits behind the ear and transmits through the bone directly to the inner ear. The aid is powered by a battery, and the whole unit is usually small enough to fit behind the ear inconspicuously.
Nearly two-thirds of people aged over 70 have some degree of hearing impairment. Hearing aids are no substitute for definitive treatment of the underlying cause of poor hearing, so examination by an ear, nose and throat surgeon and an audiologist is sensible before a hearing aid is issued (and is essential before one can be given through the NHS). The choice of an aid depends on the age, manipulative skills, and degree of hearing impairment of the patient, and on the underlying cause of the deafness. The choice of hearing aid for a deaf child is particularly important, as impaired hearing can hinder speech development.
A sound-amplifying apparatus used by those with impaired hearing. The modern electronic hearing aid may simply amplify sound or may be designed to attenuate certain portions of the sound signal and amplify others. The cost may vary from several hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars. As a variety of hearing aids are available, it is important that patients buy the type most suitable for their needs and comfort. Patients should have a trial period prior to making the final decision to purchase the device.
An electroacoustical device that amplifies sounds. It is typically used by those with hearing loss. Common forms of hearing aids are those that fit within the ear (“in the ear,” abbreviated ITE), or within the auditory canal (“in the canal,” or ITC); those that are worn behind the ear (BTE), and those that are carried on the body.
Electronic devices known as hearing aids are designed to enhance the hearing abilities of individuals with certain kinds of hearing impairment. A typical hearing aid is comprised of a small microphone (to capture sounds), an amplifier (to boost the sound volume), and a speaker (to relay these sounds). The latest models are compact enough to be entirely concealed within the ear canal. The specific device chosen depends on the nature and cause of the person’s hearing loss.