Hearing aid is an instrument through which sounds, both speech and environmental are recieved by a microphone, converted to electrical signals, amplified and reconverted to acoustic signals. However, like any other instruments it has both advantages and disadvantages. There are many types of hearing aids. Each type of hearing aid has its own pros and cons depending upon the model and cost.

Here's the description of hearing aids explaining it's advantages and disadvantages.
1. Body hearing aid: This is used for mild to profound deafness.
Adv: Seperation of reciever and microphone prevents acoustic feedback, allowing high amplification. Generally used in school setting.
Disadv: It's bulky, requires long wire which may be cosmetically displeasing.

2. Behind the ear hearing aid: This is also used for mild to profound deafness.
Adv: The larger size permits the use of larger components that enables the aid to provide more power and features. it is more versatile due to size and it no longer needs long wires.
Disadv: The large size is the only disadvantage.

3. In the ear hearing aid: This is used for mild to moderately severe deafness.
Adv: It's a one piece custom fit to contour of ear. It needs no tubes or cords. It has only a miniature microphone which is located in the ear. It looks more natural and cosmetically more apealing due to easy concealment.
Disadv: Smaller size limits the output. Patients who have arthritis and those who cannot perform tasks requiring manual dexterity may have difficulty with the small size of aid and battery. It can require more repair than behind the ear aid.

4. In the canal hearing aid: This is used for mild to moderately severe deafness.
Adv: It has the same advantage as of in the ear hearing aid. It is even less visible and more cosmetically pleasing.
Disadv: Even smaller than the in the ear hearing aid requires good manual dexterity.

A hearing aid generally must be cared carefully. The user should know how to care and what to do if it fails. He should also have spare parts readily available.

Common medical problems among hearing aid users are otitis externa and pressure ulcers in the external auditory canal or meatus.

Other hearing aid problems includes
1. whistling noise,
2. loose ear mold which are improperly worn or made or worn out,
3. improper aid selection requiring too much power to seperate between microphone and reciever,
4. inadequate amplification,
5. pain from mold.

There are other hearing devices which are implanted postauricularly under the skin into the skull and an external device is worn above the ear which transmits the sound through the skin.Eg: cochlear implants which are done for patients with little or no hearing. It has to meet all the consequence as of other surgeries including finance.

As technology advances, there are both good and bad in them. The success and failure depends on the person's willingness to try.

Learn more about this author, Christobel Rajesh.
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