What Is A Hearing Amplifier_ How Does It Differ From A Hearing Aid?
Being able to hear what is happening around you clearly is important. Even if you don’t have hearing loss, there are certain situations where you may struggle to hear what is going on. For instance, if you are babysitting and the children are in another room, it may be difficult to hear what they are up to.
This is where hearing amplifiers can help. Most people are familiar with hearing aids. Amplifiers, however, are a little bit different. Understanding exactly what these devices are and how they differ from hearing aids can help you decide if they are the right choice for you.
Hearing loss is quite common, affecting a large percentage of the population. Sometimes, it is the result of being exposed to loud noises. In other cases, it occurs as a natural part of the aging process. Other common causes include nerve problems, circulation issues, and other physical problems involving the ear.
In most cases, hearing loss only occurs across certain frequencies. For instance, you might be able to hear low-pitched sounds perfectly but struggle to hear higher-pitched sounds. These are the types of issues that hearing aids are designed to address. Instead of amplifying sounds across all frequencies, they only amplify the frequencies that you have a hard time hearing.
Hearing amplifiers, on the other hand, amplify all sound frequencies. They aren’t designed to address hearing loss. Instead, they are designed to help you hear quiet sounds more easily. For instance, if you want to watch TV late at night without disturbing your partner, you could use these special amplifying devices to hear the sound on the TV without having to turn it up.
Because hearing aids and amplifiers look a lot alike, people often mistakenly believe that they can be used in the same way. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Amplifiers are not designed to address hearing loss. If you notice that you can’t hear certain frequencies as well as you used to, you should make an appointment with an audiologist to have your hearing evaluated. After performing an exam, they can create specially designed hearing aids that only amplify the frequencies that you need.
Hearing amplifiers should not be used for hearing loss. Since they amplify every frequency, they can make certain sounds too loud, which could wind up doing more harm than good.
What they are good for, however, is enabling you to hear quiet noises more easily. To get a better idea of how these devices are meant to be used, it is helpful to look at some examples.
Many people use them for bird watching. The amplification provided by the devices makes it easier to hear distant bird calls. Similarly, they also work well for watching TV with the volume turned down. They make it easy to hear a baby crying in another room or to keep an ear out for someone knocking on the door if you are expecting a package.
Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of the difference between hearing aids and amplifiers. Both types of devices are beneficial when they are used for the specific purposes they were designed for.