The ear is a complex part of the body that is made up of many different sections. And while most hearing damage is likely to be triggered by deep issues within the system, there are many types of outer ear issues that may require hearing aids to manage.
Outer Hearing Loss Isn't Always Discussed
The outer ear is a unique part of the hearing system that isn't as often discussed as others. For example, the pinna (your visible ear on your head) captures and focuses sounds and is critical for hearing. If this part of the ear gets damaged, it may be harder to hear even if a person's inner ear isn't damaged or is as strong as it was before that part of the ear ended up getting damaged.
The ear canal can end up getting blocked with wax or other hard materials in a way that dims the sound of a person's hearing. Though it may be possible to clean out this material, some may end up being permanent. And the surface of the eardrum, which separates the outer ear from the rest of the hearing system, may get damaged in a way that requires a hearing aid to properly manage.
Ways Hearing Aids Help
Hearing aids can help with hearing loss caused in the outer part of the ear by providing a myriad of benefits. For example, it can help with light surface damage to the eardrum by enhancing the volume of sound and making it shake the damaged or weaker eardrum more easily. And hearing aids can also enhance the ear canal by transferring sounds through this area with more efficiency.
The types of hearing aids used for this process often vary. Over-the-ear hearing aids can be removed and set inside of the ear, focusing sound better on the damaged exterior of the outer ear. There are also implants that can amplify the qualify of the sound in the ear without being visible. The options here all depend on what the doctor thinks is best and which method is suited for the damage to the ear.
Thankfully, hearing aids can be replaced if they end up not being the right option for a person. This step is critical because it allows them to change up their hearing experience, provide themselves with better hearing possibilities, and make it easier to communicate with loved ones after suffering damage or hearing loss caused by the outer ear.
For more information about hearing aids, contact a local medical office.
Share5 October 2020
I knew that my hearing wasn’t as good as it had once been, but I was still upset when my doctor told me that I had a significant hearing loss in both ears, and that I was going to need hearing aids if I wanted to participate more fully in my day to day life. But then I started researching hearing aids. I was thrilled to find out that there were small, barely visible aids that could help me hear without marking me as hearing impaired on first glance. Even better, the hearing aids were much more advanced than I’d thought. The ones that I chose can actually help cancel out environmental noise, like the clatter of a loud restaurant, so that I can focus on conversation with the waitress or the person across the table. My hearing aids have really improved my life.
