Frequently Asked Questions

There are three types of hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss: This impairment is a result of sound not reaching the inner ear (Cochlea), caused by blockage or damage in the outer and/or middle ear. Common causes include wax build-up, a perforated ear drum, fluid in the middle ear, or damage to the bones in the middle ear.

Sensorineural Loss: A result of dysfunction of the inner ear (Cochlea) or the hearing nerve, with very little difference between air conduction and bone conduction of sound.

Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, affecting both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear.

According to the Hearing Health Foundation (HHF), it is advisable to use a hearing aid even with mild hearing loss, so that sounds around the 40–60 decibel range (like the low rumble of wheels on tarmac or a refrigerator) don't appear muffled.

An audiogram is a graphical representation of the intensity of one's hearing loss, measured against frequency on the x-axis and volume (dB) on the y-axis. It measures air and bone conduction loss in both ears and helps in diagnosis and selection of suitable amplification.

A kind of therapy for individuals with speech impairment, also known as Speech Language Pathology (SLP). It involves a professional helping someone with impaired speech properly express themselves and process thoughts through vocal gestures and language — usually required for children with speech disorders.

Tympanometry is a test of the general health of the middle ear, especially the ear drum (tympanic membrane). It examines fluid presence, movement, and sound conduction through the middle-ear bones, providing quantitative medical information about the middle ear.

If you think you're having hearing loss or trouble hearing even with one ear, visit an ENT doctor who will determine whether it can be treated medically. They will recommend an audiologist for a thorough hearing evaluation, and based on the audiogram report you can determine the degree of hearing loss and whether hearing aids can help.

A hearing aid has a microphone that takes in sound and runs it through filters onto an amplifier that sends it to the receiver. The clean, amplified sound moves into the ear canal, vibrates the eardrum, and permeates through the bones in the middle ear to the inner ear (cochlea), where hair cells help conduct the sound to the nerve.

Hearing aids are helpful yet cannot bring back hearing to normal. They make gentle noises audible that you previously couldn't hear, and prevent loud noises from becoming too loud or uncomfortable. They also help you understand words better even in loud environments.

Several factors determine the right hearing aid for you: the type and measure of your hearing loss, your lifestyle, the activities you regularly do, and your outer and inner ear canal size and shape. Your hearing dispenser uses these to select the most suitable hearing aid for your condition.

Binaural hearing has marked benefits over monaural hearing except for a one-eared hearing loss individual. Hearing loss due to age and noise tends to be bilateral — if both ears are affected, you're likely to perform better with a binaural solution.

Once you start wearing your hearing instruments, conversation becomes less tiring, using the phone more convenient, and watching TV more enjoyable. You'll need to get accustomed to the physical sensation of wearing them, but this adjustment period is typically short.

Battery life depends on how long you wear your hearing aids, their size, the type of circuit, and the battery size used. Your hearing aid dispenser can give you an estimated life for your particular batteries.

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