Hearing Aids

A hearing aid is a small sound amplifier that amplifies otherwise inaudible sounds. By utilizing the wearer's residual hearing, it delivers these sounds to the brain's auditory center, allowing the perception of sound. This provides significant convenience for individuals with hearing loss.

A hearing aid consists of five main components: a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver (speaker), a power source, and a volume control. They are categorized by transmission method into air-conduction and bone-conduction aids. Based on the style of wear, they are classified as body-worn, glasses-style, behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) aids.

Since their introduction in the early 20th century, the fundamental design of electronic hearing aids has remained largely unchanged, still comprising a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and power source. However, the size of each component has significantly decreased, sound quality has continually improved, and more customizable control options have become available.

1. Microphone:​​ Picks up sound and converts it into an electrical signal.

2. Amplifier:​​ Increases the strength of the electrical signal.

3. ​Receiver:​​ Performs the opposite function of the microphone, converting the amplified electrical signal back into sound waves.

4. Power Source:​​ A small battery.

5. ​Casing:​​ Protects the internal components.

If we look at the external design of hearing aids, you'll find three main styles: body-worn, behind-the-ear (often called BTE), and in-the-ear. The in-the-ear style itself includes full-shell, in-the-canal (ITC), and the very discreet completely-in-the-canal (CIC) aids.