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Hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and prices. The standard for hearing aids has changed a lot over the past decade. These were previously larger and basic devices which often resulted in poor sound quality and poor patient use. The basic goal of a hearing aid is to add volume (gain) to the pitches of your hearing loss and to bring your |
| physical hearing as close to normal as possible. The basic parts include: | |
Microphone- to pick up the sounds from the environment
Speaker (receiver)- to put the amplified sound down into your ear
Amplifier- to make sounds louder
Digital Processor- to break down sounds and send them into the computer chip of the hearing aid as well as giving it a set of instructions on what to do and how to work for you.
A hearing aid is an individual prescription, and much like medication is not designed to be shared. Also one type of hearing aid will not suit every patient, just as one medication may be effective for one and cause side effects for others.
There are several technical parts inside a hearing aid which make it specific to you such as the ‘programs’ it has stored inside, as well as the information about your specific hearing loss, how to manage background noise, and information about the physical fit inside your ear.
Patients are often shocked at the price of hearing aids. You must consider that this is a type of computer that fits in your ear and as simple as it may look it is working very hard inside to help you hear better. Often cost is the number one barrier to hearing aids as there is limited funding from the government ($500 per hearing aid through the Assistive Devices Program that all residents with a valid Ontario Health card can receive).
We aim to work within our patients needs, however we choose not to influence your financial decisions regarding your hearing devices. We will provide options that are suitable for your type of loss that range from more economical to more technologically sophisticated.
You may also notice that if you are embarking down the road of needing hearing aids, you may be somewhat nervous or disappointed to need them. While people do not look forward to needing hearing aids, they can make a significant positive influence on how well you communicate. It is a time where you will need to be patient with yourself and the adjustment process. It may help to bring a spouse, family member, or trusted friend to your appointment to help you process the information following your visit with us.
In Ontario, there are only two professionals who are legally allowed to prescribe hearing aids and they are: Physicians (M.D.) and Audiologists (Au.D. – and Master’s level audiologists).
Physicians in Ontario, by virtue of the Regulated Health Professions Act (R.H.P.A.), are entitled to diagnose, treat and prescribe diseases, disorders and treat/prescribe as necessary. Just like the physician is more likely to refer to an Optometrist to prescribe glasses, the audiologist is the most qualified to prescribe the specifics of hearing aids, as there is no academic coursework to teach these details to physicians in medical school.