How to choose a hearing aid for an elderly person?

Often, older people suffer from hearing loss due to age-related changes in the organ responsible for this function. This disease is called senile hearing loss. However, today this problem can be dealt with with the help of a modern medical invention - a hearing aid, which helps to restore the severity of feeling. This is a great opportunity to hear all the sounds of the world around us again, as well as lead an active and fulfilling lifestyle. In this article, we will talk about how to choose a hearing aid for an elderly person.

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Causes of hearing loss

Senile hearing loss (presbyakusis) develops very slowly, which is why it is quite difficult to notice. This symptom affects all components of the organ of hearing:

• The middle part of the ear, which is responsible for amplifying the sound.
• The inside of the auricle, transforming the impulses of sound into electronic signals.
• Nerve structures that deliver signals to the cerebral cortex.
• The cerebral cortex, which is responsible for decoding the received impulses.

Important! Due to this process, the elasticity of the skull decreases, and more precisely, the bone itself, which leads to a decrease in sensitivity to sound signals.

Decreased perception of sound signals may be due to the following:

• Thickening of the tympanic membranes (the ability to respond to high-frequency sound, which people with good hearing can clearly distinguish) decreases.
• Shortage of teeth, due to which the syndrome of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint develops.
• Injuries (ears or head), as well as the consequences of chemotherapy or the use of strong antibiotics.
• Inflammation of the auditory canals.

Important! There are diseases in which the use of hearing aids is strictly prohibited. These are inflammatory diseases of the ear, epilepsy, hearing loss as a result of great stress.

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What is a hearing aid?

A hearing aid is an electronic acoustic device that can amplify hearing thanks to special elements. The main elements of this device are:

• Microphone.
• Amplifier.
• Speaker

The operation of the device is based on the sound entering the microphone. Further information is converted using an amplifier and transmitted to a speaker, which is located in the ear of an elderly person.

Important! Battery powered hearing aid.

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Types of Hearing Aids

To choose the right hearing aid for an elderly person, you need to understand the varieties of such devices. There are several criteria for classifying them.

Installation principle

According to the installation method, hearing aids are:

1. Intra-ear - placed completely in the ear canal. They are almost invisible to others and vary in setting mode and size.
2. BTE - fixed behind the auricle. Their special sound guide tube connects the receiver to the earbud transmitting sounds. Such a device has a wide range of sounds and transmits them with high quality. This unit can operate in several modes for transmitting sounds.
3. Spectacle - is a chip mounted in the temple of glasses. It works under the condition that the ends of the glasses fit snugly against the bones of the skull, since the action is based on bone conduction.
4. Pocket - a small block located in the pocket of an elderly person. From it there is a wire to the earmold, due to which the sound is transmitted. Such devices clearly convey sounds and can be configured in different modes.

Important! There are also additional devices with embedded microchips. However, they are recommended to be used only by those people who have heard sounds before.

Principle of operation

Depending on the method of sound processing, hearing aids are divided into:

• Digital are the most common models that are most popular among older people. They distinguish between speech and external noise, while increasing the sound of the first and suppressing the sounds of the environment, adapt to different environments, adapting the sound settings.

Important! Such devices transmit speech, sounds as clearly as possible, without distortion.

• Analog - such devices cannot distinguish speech or amplify any specific sounds. During the use of such models, people who suffer from hearing loss often have hearing impairment. This is due to the fact that the device amplifies not only weak, but also loud sounds, which can lead to new complications.

Important! The only advantage of such devices is their low cost.

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Choosing a hearing aid

To choose the right hearing aid for an elderly person, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. Let's take a closer look at them:

• To begin with, you should go through a consultation in an audiological center in order to completely verify the impossibility of restoring hearing function using medication or other methods, without acquiring a hearing aid.
• Visit a hearing care professional, whose main task is to assess hearing loss and select equipment that can help compensate for his loss in the required percentage.
• You can not buy the device without a doctor or specialist advice, because such amateur activity can lead to the opposite effect and hearing will begin to deteriorate.
• In the process of choosing a device, it is necessary to take into account the simplicity of its use - the fewer steps to install and connect it, the better. It is better to give preference to the most understandable and easy to use models.
• Before buying the device, it is advisable to read user reviews about different models.
• Convenience is one of the most important factors when choosing a model. This device implies its daily use, therefore, it must not be discomforting.
• When buying a new device, it is necessary that the first setting is made by a specialist and provide detailed information about it.
• Together with the device, it is advisable to immediately buy spare batteries for it.

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Model selection

The cost of a hearing aid depends on many parameters, for example:

• Manufacturing firm.
• Model.
• View.
• Type of.

Therefore, to make it easier for you to choose a hearing aid for an elderly person, we will present some of the most famous models.

Siemens

This brand represents a wide range of hearing aids. Siemens gained its fame for the quality of its products and the adequate cost of products.

Models of this brand are characterized by:

• Ease of use.
• Stylish design.
• Compact size.
• Clarity of sound and a high level of sound transmission.

Sonata

Behind-the-ear devices from the Sonata company are also a pretty good option, as they:

• They have a relatively low cost.
• Convenient to use.
• Reliable and efficiently perform their functions.
• They have automatic and independent sound control.

Widex

Widex instruments are the first digital devices that were used to restore hearing. Their features are:

• Miniature sizes.
• Practicality and reliability.
• Easy to use.

Important! Thanks to the latest technology, the elderly, using devices of this brand, are able to clearly again hear not only speech, but also all other sounds of the surrounding world.

Oticon

Devices for returning hearing from this company are distinguished by affordable cost and positive characteristics. Their advantages include:

• Reliability of a design.
• Convenient use that does not create any discomfort.
• Easy to care and manage.
• A wide range of models.
• It is practically not noticeable to people around.
• Clarity of sound.

Phonak

Devices of this manufacturer are considered heavy-duty - they can compensate for hearing loss of 3-4 degrees. Characterized by the following:

• Almost all models have a noise reduction function.
• Some models have additional settings with which you can highlight speech in noise.
• It has convenient anatomical forms.
• Very easy to use.

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Stock footage

Age-related changes are not a reason to abandon an active life, the joy of communicating with other people, and the ability to hear the sounds of the world around us. We hope our tips will help you choose the right hearing aid for an elderly person so that his life becomes full.