If you're having trouble hearing, your doctor may recommend the use of a hearing aid. This is a small electronic device with a microphone that amplifies weak sounds through a tiny speaker worn in your ear. There are many different kinds of hearing aids, and it's important that you consult your doctor to ensure that you purchase the right one. Before making a recommendation, your doctor will consider issues such as your hearing ability, comfort in using controls, and concern for appearance. He or she will then suggest a specific design, model, and brand of hearing aid to suit your needs and lifestyle. The two main types of hearing aids are 'in-the-ear', or I-T-E devices and 'behind-the-ear', or B-T-E devices. I-T-E hearing aids are custom-designed to fit inside your ear, and are almost unnoticeable when in place. B-T-E hearing aids fit comfortably behind your ear and are attached to a custom ear-mold. Although these devices are somewhat more conspicuous than I-T-E hearing aids, they tend to have longer battery lifes and can generally be connected to external sound sources such as auditory training equipment, infrared listening systems, or television. Both types of hearing aids are simple to operate and are effective at amplifying sound and screening out background noise. For more information about hearing devices, consult a doctor in your area.
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