​WHAT IS A HEARING AID?

A hearing aid is an electronic device designed to improve your hearing. Small enough to wear in or behind your ear, they make some sounds louder. They may help you hear better when it's quiet and when it's noisy. Here’s how they work:

• A microphone​ picks up sound around you
• An amplifier makes the sound louder
• A receiver sends these amplified sounds into your ear

Not everyone with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. But only 1 in 5 people who could have improvement wear them. Most of the time, they’re for people who have damage to their inner ear or the nerve that links the ear with the brain. The damage can come from:

• Disease
• Aging
• Loud noises
• Medications