Is it helpful to wear a hearing aid if one cannot hear?
Disease description:
I have a friend who is 19 years old. He suffered an ear injury in an accident and lost his hearing. I wonder if using a hearing aid would help someone who has lost hearing due to ear damage.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lu Cheng
In general, when hearing loss occurs, wearing a hearing aid is a common and effective method to assist hearing.
A hearing aid is an assistive device that improves hearing by amplifying sound signals, primarily suitable for individuals with hearing impairments who still have some residual hearing. Its working principle involves collecting environmental sounds through a microphone, processing and amplifying these sounds through an amplifier, and then delivering them into the ear canal via a speaker, helping users perceive clearer sound details.
If hearing loss is caused by issues in the ear canal or middle ear, such as earwax blockage, otitis media, or eardrum perforation, hearing may naturally recover after resolving these issues. If the hearing loss is sensorineural, which is usually caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, hearing aids can amplify sounds to help patients hear more clearly. However, the effectiveness of hearing aids varies among individuals and depends on the type and degree of hearing loss, as well as the individual's adaptation ability and usage habits. Using a hearing aid requires an adjustment period, during which patients may need some time to get used to hearing amplified sounds and learn to adjust the hearing aid settings in different environments to achieve optimal results.
