What are hearing aids?

Hearing aids are nothing but an amplifier, which fits on the ear of a partially deaf person. A hearing aid is a battery-powered, electronic device that makes listening easier for people with a hearing loss.

A hearing aid consists of:

> Microphone ( picks up the signal present in the environment and converts into electronic signals).

> An amplifier ( amplifies the electronic signals)

> Receiver( very small speaker that changes the electric signals back to sounds and delivers the sound to the ear.

Hearing aid device amplifies sound for people with hearing disabilities/impairments. The way the device works is to amplify sound vibrations from outside sufficiently so the person can hear them. The hair cells (Inner ear) receive sounds from outside, thus helping us to hear. Sometimes, a few inner ear hair cells get damaged or destroyed due to different reasons. The result: Hearing is diminished. A hearing aid receives sounds from outside, functioning similar to a cochlear hair cell, and transmits them to the remaining auditory nerves, which then conduct the sound vibrations to the brain.