Once people reach the age of 71, recent JAMA Network studies report that they’ll likely lose some hearing. In fact, 65.3% of US seniors need some additional hearing help! By the age of 90, this figure increases to w shopping 92.2%.
Living with hearing problems can make communication and connection difficult. Luckily, hearing aids for seniors can nip these problems and the isolation that comes with them in the bud.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of auditory assistance devices!
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Hearing aids are made up of three core components. The first is a microphone that picks up sound waves. When someone speaks to the wearer, the hearing aid detects what they’re saying.
Then, these sound waves go into a built-in amplifier. This amplifier converts sound waves into electrical signals. It then amplifies them and makes them stronger and louder.
Finally, a receiver uses the amplified electrical signals to make new sound waves. These sound waves travel outside the hearing aid and move into the ear canal.
Some hearing aids for seniors also send the signals directly into the eardrum for a more direct route into the brain.
Regardless, the sound waves the hearing aid produces impact the inner ear’s hair follicles. This stimulation prompts the sound vibrations to become electrical impulses.
These impulses go to the brain for interpretation, which is when the senior wearing the device hears and understands what’s being said.
Hearing aids don’t just let the wearer hear others talking to them in real life. They also amplify the sound waves of:
- TVs and radios
- Music, including live musical performances
- Loud noises like cars passing by
- Sounds like people walking near them
Hearing aids let seniors enjoy music and media, but they also enhance awareness and safety.
Types of Hearing Aids for Seniors
Seniors can enjoy many hearing aid types. Over-the-counter hearing aids are an option for those with mild hearing loss.
These self-fitting hearing aids are the most affordable out there. They don’t require a doctor’s prescription, which costs money to obtain. Usually, the device itself is a one-time purchase between $300 and $600 depending on your insurance plan.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
BTE aids are the most common senior hearing solutions available. They’re perfect for hearing problems ranging from mild to severe.
The benefits of BTE hearing aids include:
- Affordable for most seniors
- The best amplification of sound waves, making them frequently more effective than other styles
- Directional microphones that pick up sound from everywhere in the room
The main downside is that they’re the largest variety of hearing aids. This makes them more noticeable than other options.
However, since so many seniors require some auditory assistance, this is nothing to be ashamed of! It can even be a conversation starter at fun senior living events.
Open-fit hearing aids are a subcategory of BTE hearing aids. They don’t plug into the ear, which makes your own voice sound better to you.
These aids also keep the ear canal extremely open. Low-frequency sounds can enter the ear directly without amplification; high-frequency sounds get amplified.
They’re ideal for those with low-frequency hearing capabilities.
In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
ITE hearing aids go inside the ear. There are two common styles:
- Full-shell hearing aids that fill almost all of the outer ear’s bowl-shaped area
- Half-shell hearing aids that only fill the lower part of this bowl-shaped space
They’re available for seniors with mild to severe hearing loss.
Some benefits of ITE hearing aids include:
- Small, barely visible hearing aids
- Volume control features that don’t fit into other hearing aid styles
- Larger batteries and longer battery life
- Lots of rechargeable battery options for convenience and affordability
- An easy-to-remove structure for charging the batteries and staying comfortable while asleep
Note that their structure means that ITE hearing aids may get plugged up with earwax. This is expected and not a flaw with the device.
Luckily, the easy-to-handle structure makes improving senior hearing easy since you can just clean off the hearing aid and put it back in. You’ll be able to enjoy vibrant assisted living community life more easily!
In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids
ITC hearing aids are made for mild to moderate hearing loss.
These hearing aids are custom-molded to fit in the wearer’s ear canal. As a result, they’ll require professionals to take measurements of the wearer’s ear structure. This can be more expensive, but it leads to a great fit.
These hearing aids are:
- Less visible than all other hearing aid types
- Natural-sounding in the sounds they produce
- Modern in the myriad of unique features they offer
Hearing Aid Selection Tips to Know
Talking with a professional is the first step toward improving senior hearing effectively. There are tons of underlying reasons that older adults may need auditory amplification. They include:
- Excessive exposure to loud noises
- Genetics
- Conductive hearing loss (where the middle ear is blocked, inhibiting the transmission of sound waves)
- Sensorineural hearing loss (where the inner hair cells and auditory nerves are damaged)
Since age is already a risk factor for hearing loss, it might just be a natural progression of life! Only a specialist can tell you for sure.
Professionals will help you determine:
- How severe your hearing loss is
- What your goals are in selecting a hearing aid
- Which hearing aid types make the most sense for your specific hearing loss
They also may give you a prescription for BTE, ITE, or ITC hearing aids.
Choose Something Comfortable
Once you know your aims and have a prescription, it’s important to choose comfortable hearing aids. After all, you’ll be wearing them almost all of the time.
Think about:
- Speech enhancement
- Overall noise quality
- Lightweight structure
- Diversity of ear tip options
- Waterproof durability
- Bluetooth connectivity
Beyond Senior Hearing Solutions
Now that you know how to choose hearing aids for seniors, it’s time to enhance your quality of life in other ways, too. Finding a great senior community in Charlotte, NC lets you form bonds and retain your well-being for many years to come.
Our experts are committed to ongoing training in both assisted living and memory care. We’re excited to offer the best apartments and amenities out there.
Schedule a tour of our community to learn what sets TerraBella Little Avenue apart!
