| It is very tough for some individuals to admit to | | | | almost imperceptible, because they are custom made. |
| themselves that their hearing is not as good as it used | | | | They are most suitable for those suffering from mild to |
| to be. In certain ways, it is a harder admission to make | | | | moderate loss of hearing. |
| than that one has to have spectacles. After all, you | | | | In The Canal (ITC): this unit is larger and will cope with |
| can kind of fudge things as your hearing goes by lip | | | | a wider scope of hearing impairment. |
| reading or turning up the sound. | | | | In The Ear (ITE): these systems are custom-made to |
| You have to be honest with yourself, if you know that | | | | match the patient's ear and are a little larger than the |
| something is wrong or if your partner says that the | | | | ITC models. |
| TV is too loud. You can delude yourself that you are | | | | Behind The Ear (BTE): this is the most widespread kind |
| not losing your hearing, but you cannot fool others. | | | | of hearing aid and can be adjusted to suit many |
| Well, not for very long anyway. | | | | conditions of impaired hearing. |
| So, basically, your option is to admit your difficulty to | | | | There are some individuals who should not wear a |
| yourself or say that everybody else is wrong. The | | | | hearing aid just because their hearing is not up to mark. |
| sensible solution is to go to a doctor and have your | | | | The main category here is children. Children take a |
| hearing tested. And, although I do not want to forecast | | | | variety of paths to adulthood and one of these routes |
| the outcome, the probability is that your hearing will be | | | | involves a slower development of their hearing. |
| found wanting, although it may be found that you have | | | | This is especially true of the under sevens. If you think |
| a disease of the ear, which when put right will restore | | | | that your child might fall into this group, you ought to |
| your hearing. | | | | consult a doctor. It may be the result either of a |
| Otherwise, the alternatives are: a life of struggle; utilizing | | | | hearing impairment of a disease. |
| a hearing trumpet or getting an electronic hearing aid. | | | | Deaf aids have come a very long way from the days |
| The obvious answer is to opt for the electronic hearing | | | | of cupping one's hands behind one's ears or using a |
| aid which is fairly small and unobtrusive. Barely | | | | listening trumpet. They have even come a very long |
| noticeable, in fact. | | | | way from the huge battery deaf aids of the twenties |
| Once you make a decision that you need a hearing | | | | and thirties. |
| aid, then the complexity of choice commences. There | | | | Nowadays, you have the option of analogue or digital |
| are basically four kinds of hearing aids and they can | | | | hearing aids. Analogue devices are very good, but |
| then be either analogue or digital. The four designs are: | | | | going digital is the same as making the transition from |
| Completely In the Canal (CIC): these devices are | | | | vinyl records to CD's. |