50+ Lifestyles

Ask the Audiologist

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

By Laura Schroeder, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

The very first hearing aids were ear trumpets. Users would hold the small end of the trumpet to their ear and the shape of the trumpet would amplify whatever sound was at the large end.

Electric hearing aids were invented in 1898, and since then all hearing aids have the same basic parts: a microphone to pick up sound in the environment, a way to process or amplify that sound, a receiver or speaker to produce sound, and a battery to power the whole system.

Modern hearing aid technology turns sounds into an electrical signal that is processed and changed before being turned back into an acoustic signal. For decades, hearing aids amplified all sounds the same: loud sounds, soft sounds, speech sounds, background noise, etc. Since digital hearing aids became available in 1990, how they process sound has become more and more complex.

Today’s hearing aids can amplify soft, medium, and loud sounds differently, and they can amplify speech sounds while minimizing background noise. Hearing aids still use batteries, but rechargeable hearing aids make using them much easier for many people. There are many hearing aid options and features available. Contact your local hearing healthcare provider to discuss what might work best for you, your hearing, and your communication needs.

Removing earwax safely is important for maintaining good ear health and preventing hearing loss or injury to the ear canal. Remember to exercise caution, read and follow instructions carefully, and use gentle techniques to protect your ears.

Laura Schroeder is an audiologist at Audiology Consultants, P.C. For more information, visit audiologyconsultants.com. Stores are located in Davenport, IA, Muscatine, IA, Moline, IL, and Geneseo, IL.