Compared to Hearing Aids

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Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are miniature electronic devices that sit in or on the ear, and selectively amplify and process sounds. Hearing aids contain one or more microphones to pick up sound, an amplifier that amplifies and processes sound, a receiver or speaker that sends the signal from the amplifier into the ear, and a battery, or power source. All these components are packaged into various styles to fit people’s cosmetic needs and power requirements. While advances in hearing instrument designs and sound processing have benefited many people with severe and profound hearing loss, generally the greater the degree of hearing loss, the more variable the benefits are from hearing aids. While very powerful and technologically sophisticated hearing aids exist today, they may not improve someone’s ability to understand speech if there are too few or no remaining inner ear sensory cells to stimulate. In these cases, the sound information cannot be properly transmitted to the brain and cochlear implants may be recommended.

More information about hearing aids can be found in the Healthy Hearing Quick Guide to Hearing Aids.

Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants deliver stimulation directly to the hearing nerve, bypassing the damaged structures of the inner ear. Cochlear implants have internal components that are surgically placed and components that are worn externally and require fitting and programming. Cochlear implants are considered the only medical treatment for severe to profound hearing loss.