Provided by http://kelownahearing.com/ – In today’s world, science and technology have broken all boundaries. From pacemakers to complete plastic surgeries, technology never fails to amaze us. Among the many wonders of technology lies its timely ability to bring back sensations to humans an act deemed impossible once upon a time. Now through the miracle of technical knowledge, it is possible for the people whose five primary senses are impaired to feel normal. Among these people are those who cannot hear.
Their hearing loss can be attributed to their birth or even sometimes to an incident of some sort which disrupts their ear canal, causing them to lose auditory sensations. It is difficult for such people to have a normal life and their disability even gives a hand to their emotional disturbance. However, this is the 21st century and although hearing aids are what most people are aware of, there are still other devices which have been created to improve hearing. Below is a description of a few such types of devices.
Assistive listening devices
These devices are many in number, having been designed to help improve everyday sounds. They are made available in particular settings such as movie theaters, auditoriums, and houses of worship and are not just limited to use by people with hearing loss. This means that even people whose hearing is fine can make use of such devices in particular places to enhance their listening skills. These are simple devices consisting of a microphone close to the source of the sound and a receiver near the listener. The purchase of such devices does not require medical clearance, unlike hearing aids.
Cochlear implants
A cochlear implant is a technological device implanted in the inner ear where it stimulates the nerves and produces useful hearing sensations. These implants consist of two main components an external one and an internal one. Unlike hearing aids, these devices are meant for people with severe hearing loss.
Implantable middle ear hearing devices
These are built to improve sound transmission to the inner ear. There are several tiny bones in the middle ear. These devices are attached to one of those bones and when they receive sound waves, they vibrate and move these bones, thus leading a hearing sensation. They are most suitable for individuals with sensor neural hearing loss.
Bone-anchored hearing aids
These hearing aids are built for people suffering from middle ear problems and those who are unable to hear from one ear. These devices have two components: an implanted one and an external one. The implanted component is attached surgically to the bone behind the ear. The external component is connected to the implanted component and carries vibrations through the skull to the inner ear.
Before the selection and purchase of any such device, it is imperative to carefully evaluate the issue at hand and seek professional help so as to acquire the right solution. Maintenance and repair expenses of the selected device must also be kept in mind before making a final choice.