What Is The Process To Begin The Use Of Hearing Aid For Hearing Loss?

Posted on Mon, 27 Jun 2022

Question: Hi Doctor,

I have uncle who is approx. 75 years old and he is having issues with hearing for quite sometime. we are thinking of getting him hearing aid but not sure about the process and correct heading aid and associate cost. he lives in country side so would need machine which could work in rural environment.
Please let me know your thoughts on how should we go about the process.

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Riddhi Shah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please see the answer

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Following steps need to be followed:
1.Consulting an ENT specialist doctor for examination of ear, to clean the ear if there is any discharge, wax, etc., and also to rule out any ear disease causing reduced hearing like perforation in ear drum.

2.Consulting an Audiologist for the hearing test called PTA(Pure Tone Audiogram).

3.Hearing aid trial according to the hearing loss found in the hearing test.It is also done by audiologist.

They give trial of 3-4 hearing aid according to the hearing loss found.And then we can choose,which suits us.

There are different types of hearing aid like to be worn behind the ear, in the ear canal, etc.

It would be advisable to use a digital hearing aid as in the future if the hearing gets worsened, then computer programming can be done in this hearing aid according to the hearing loss.

Digital hearing aid are available with starting price around 12-15 thousand. Companies like Siemens, phonak, etc., are good for hearing aid.

Also use multichannel hearing aid. They have different features like background noise reduction, tinnitus masker, etc. As the number of channels increase in the hearing aid, the cost of hearing aid increases.

Hope this answers your question. Take care.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj