Hearing aids

Hearing aids are devices that sit behind or inside your ears and augment sound, mainly by amplifying it, to treat hearing loss. They come in different shapes, sizes, and styles and can have specific features, like microphone directionality, sophisticated noise reduction, and the ability to connect to cell phones and televisions.

Penn Medicine’s audiology, hearing, and balance experts conduct hearing device evaluations to help you find the right hearing aid for you. Our hearing aid specialists consider your age, lifestyle, and hearing needs, and we offer the latest, most effective devices. When you hear better, your ability to communicate and your quality of life improve.

Hearing aids contain microphones to pick up sounds, processors to analyze the sound, amplifiers to make sounds louder, and speakers to send the sounds to your ears. Louder sounds are easier for damaged sensory cells in your inner ear to process. Different hearing aid styles include:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE): This device wraps around the back of your ear. A tube connects to an earpiece that sits inside your ear canal.
• In-the-ear (ITE): All parts of this hearing aid are contained in one piece that sits inside your ear.
• In-the-canal (ITC): This is the smallest style of hearing aid. It sits deeper in your ear canal. 

Anyone with mild to severe hearing loss in one or both ears may benefit from a hearing aid. The device may also help people with tinnitus.

You’ll start with a physical and auditory evaluation. If a hearing aid is recommended, you’ll be guided through the process of selecting a style and manufacturer. You might consider features like connectivity for cell phones, tablets, and computers. Audiology specialists will perform a hearing aid fitting and provide device training and education, including how to insert and remove hearing aids. The devices also come with a warranty and options for maintenance and repair services. Hearing aids generally last three to seven years.

It can take some time to become accustomed to wearing a hearing aid. It’s a good idea to practice putting the device in and taking it out, adjusting the volume, and using its features.

Better hearing and communication can be life changing. Penn Medicine’s specialists have been helping people hear the world better for more than 30 years at locations near you. Our audiologists work with experts from otology and neurotology and other specialties to diagnose your hearing loss and help you select a device that seamlessly fits your life.