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Hearing Aids

A hearing aid is a small, battery-operated electronic device that’s worn In-the-Ear (ITE) or Behind-the-Ear (BTE) to make speech and other sounds loud enough to hear.

Hearing aids come in different shapes, sizes, and types. Both digital and analog models are available. Features aside, all hearing aids function in a similar fashion and have the same basic components:

  • Microphone(s)—The microphone gathers sound and converts the sound into electrical energy. Hearing aids with more than one microphone collect sound from different directions.

  • Amplifier—Processes and amplifies the electrical signal.

  • Receiver—Converts the electrical signal back into a sound wave that can be heard.

  • Volume Control—A small wheel that can be adjusted to increase or decrease the loudness of sound. Some hearing aids automatically adjust the volume and have no user controls.

  • Earmold—The part of a BTE hearing aid that directs sound to the ear.

  • Battery—The energy source that powers a hearing aid.

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