Audiologists And Hearing Aids | What You Need To Know
Posted on: 25 August 2022
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently created a new category of hearing aids that can be purchased over the counter. Much like grabbing a pair of reading glasses at the pharmacy without the need for a prescription, you can now grab whatever hearing aid seems to work and head to the check-out lane. Your hearing, however, is important and should not be relegated to grab-and-go. Audiologists and hearing aids work best together.
Hearing aids are not one-size-fits-all devices. You need an audiologist to help you figure out which type and style of hearing aid will work best for you based on the severity of your hearing loss, how active you are, your lifestyle, and other personal preferences. The new FDA-regulated, over-the-counter hearing aids will be one-size-fits-most devices.
Hearing Exam
When you go to the audiologist, they will test your hearing with a hearing exam because they want to know how well you can hear different sounds. This will help them determine the severity and cause of your hearing loss, which is crucial because it can help the audiologist determine how to help you hear better. If you have a medical condition causing your hearing loss, you will be referred to a doctor for treatment.
You may not need a hearing aid if you have mild hearing loss. The audiologist may suggest other options, such as using a telephone amplifier when you are on the phone or attending a hearing conservation program at work if you are exposed to loud noises.
However, if you have moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss, you will likely need a hearing aid. The audiologist will help you choose the right type and style of hearing aid based on your hearing exam results and lifestyle.
Discreteness
Most people are familiar with a behind-the-ear hearing aid, commonly referred to as a BTE. This is the type of hearing aid that will be available for over-the-counter purchase. Other options are much more discrete, however. In-the-ear hearing aids, or ITE, fit completely in the bowl of your ear and match your skin tone, so they are harder to see than BTE. In-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids fit further into your ear canal and are virtually undetectable.
All three types—ITE, ITC, and CIC—are custom-made by creating a mold of your ear so that the hearing aid fits snugly. If the aid does not fit well, it will generate feedback or high-pitched whistling noises, which is uncomfortable for the user.
While the FDA is attempting to make hearing aids more accessible to the general public, audiologists and hearing aids go hand in hand. Therefore, if you are experiencing any level of hearing loss, see your audiologist first before reaching for an over-the-counter solution.
Contact your doctor to learn more about audiologists and hearing aids.
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