The hearing aid, also called an acoustic hearing aid, is a small device that should be placed directly in the ear to help increase the volume of sounds, making it easier for people who have lost this function, at any age, being very common in older people who lose hearing ability due to aging.
There are several types of hearing aids, internal or external to the ear, consisting of a microphone, a sound amplifier and a speaker, which increases the sound to reach the ear, for use it is necessary to go to the otolaryngologist and when performing hearing tests, such as an audiogram, to know the degree of deafness, which can be mild or profound, and choose the most suitable device.
- In addition.
- There are several models and brands.
- Such as Widex.
- Siemens.
- Phonak and Oticon.
- For example.
- In addition to different shapes and sizes.
- And the possibility to use in one ear or both.
The price of the hearing aid depends on the type and brand of the device, which can range from 8,000 to 12,000 reais.
However, in some states of Brazil, the hearing impaired patient may have access to a hearing aid for free, through the SUS, after the doctor’s indication.
Hearing aids are indicated by the otolaryngologist for cases of hearing system wear deafness, or when there is a situation or illness that causes difficulties in the arrival of sound in the inner ear, such as:
Where there is any type of hearing loss, the otolaryngologist should be evaluated, who will assess the type of deafness and confirm whether the hearing aid is necessary or if medication or surgery is required for treatment, then the speech therapist will be the professional responsible for indicating the type of device, in addition to adapting and monitoring the hearing aid for the user.
In addition, in the case of more severe sensorineural deafness, or where there is no hearing improvement with the hearing aid, a cochlear implant, an electronic device that directly stimulates the auditory nerve through small electrodes that carry electrical signals to the brain that interprets them as sounds, completely replacing the ears of people with severe deafness. Learn more about the pricing and operation of the cochlear implant.
There are different types and models of hearing aids, which must be guided by the doctor and speech therapist. The main ones are:
Internal devices have a higher cost, however, the choice between these models is made according to the needs of each person, for use it is recommended to perform a hearing rehabilitation training with the speech therapist, to allow a better adaptation and, in addition, the doctor can indicate a period of home tests to know if there is adaptation.
The hearing aid should be handled with care, as it is a fragile device that can be easily broken down and therefore it is important to remove the device when swimming, exercising or sleeping.
In addition, it is important to bring the device to the hearing aid store at least twice a year for maintenance and as long as it does not work properly.
To clean the BTE, you need
This procedure should be performed at least once a month and as long as the patient feels that they are not listening well, as the tube of the device may be dirty with wax.
The intrachannel device is cleaned with the passage of a soft cloth on its surface, while to clean the sound output, microphone opening and ventilation channel, the cleaning utensils provided, such as small brushes and wax filters, are used.
Batteries usually last 3 to 15 days, however, the change depends on the brand of the device and battery, and the amount of daily use and, in most cases, the hearing aid gives an indication of when the battery is low, which beeps. .
To change the battery, it is usually sufficient to move a magnetic magnet to remove the battery. After removing the used battery, it is necessary to install a new charged battery for the device to function properly.