If you are not able to hear as well as you once could, you might be wondering what kind of equipment would be right for your situation. You should have a few options, two of them being a hearing aid and a cochlear implant. If you are not sure which might be best for you, it is time to learn the similarities and differences of each option. A hearing aid works by amplifying sound, sending it from the outer ear to the inner area where the hair cells are located. These hair cells then change the energy of the sound into signals that the nerve can understand. However, for many people who cannot hear well anymore, the hair cells are damaged in some way, which means this kind of equipment does not work. In that case, a cochlear implant may be best, because it does not use the hair cells at all. Instead, it converts sounds into digital signals that the auditory nerve can understand. One advantage of cochlear implants is that people can often learn to speak when using them, and their voice is more likely to sound natural than with any other equipment for the ears. They can also typically use the phone without issues, as well as hear noises from far away. The main disadvantage is that they need to be surgically implanted, which means they can be expensive. They also often have to be replaced at some point, and the batteries within them usually have a shorter lifespan than the batteries in the average hearing aid. On the other hand, an advantage of the typical hearing aid is that it is often cheaper and does not require surgery. This also makes it less invasive. Some patients report that low frequency sounds are easier to hear than with other equipment, and of course it is easier to simply take out and adjust or clean than cochlear implants. The drawbacks are that these products are of limited help when it comes to high frequency sounds, and loud noises can be jarring as well. In the end, it seems that cochlear implants are usually best for anyone with severe deafness, while a hearing aid might be right for anyone with mild to moderate deafness. In addition, implants are often best for people who have been deaf for the shortest period of time possible. This is why older people often get them after a lifetime of being able to hear. It is also why toddlers seem to do well with implants, since they have not been deaf for more than a couple of years and are therefore able to adapt well to finally being able to interpret sounds. Are you looking for a prescott, az hearing aid? Come to the professionals at Miracle-Ear. Visit http://www.miracle-ear-prescott.com for more information.
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