Hearing aids are designed for people with various types of hearing loss. Individuals of all ages can safely and comfortably wear them, including: infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, young and middle-aged adults, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. In general, hearing aids are most valuable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Such hearing loss is usually caused by: aging, exposure to loud noise, drug reactions, head injury, or genetic factors. When hearing loss is more pronounced (i.e. severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss), hearing aids may not be adequate. Instead, items known as assistive listening devices (ALDs) may be necessary to help individuals hear in specific settings — i.e. phone conversations, classroom lectures, public address systems, or listening to the radio and television.
In the most severe cases, when hearing aids cannot help, a cochlear implant, or a Baha bone conduction system, is a possible remedy. Before considering a cochlear implant, a person should first wear a hearing aid – and have their healthcare provider document limited benefit from there use – in order to be correctly evaluated for a cochlear implant.
When loss of hearing is discovered in children, the earlier they are fitted for hearing aids, the better, as they may give children access to some sounds. Doctors recommend that infants and children try wearing them for three to six months before considering a cochlear implant, with the suggested time frame varying, depending on the age, hearing history, and cause of hearing loss in the child.
Whether children are fitted with hearing aids or cochlear implants, a program of family-centered auditory therapy is recommended immediately following the fitting.
In certain cases – i.e. when a patient has conductive or mixed hearing loss or single sided deafness – a Baha bone conduction system may be a better solution than hearing aids.
In order to schedule a hearing test or learn more about hearing aids, contact a hearing healthcare professional or a hearing aid provider near you.
