Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids

If you have hearing loss, you are not alone. Around 466 million people worldwide have hearing loss that limits their everyday functioning, of whom approximately 34 million are children. This estimate is based on World Health Organization data from 2019.

Hearing loss can be caused by many factors, including the ageing process, heredity, illness, noise exposure and a build-up of earwax, among others.

Hearing loss in children may be caused by premature birth, complications during delivery, exposure to loud sounds, infections or the use of ototoxic medication, that is, medication that can damage hearing.

There are three main types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. Treatment depends on the type and degree of hearing loss in each individual.

Conductive hearing loss results from problems in the outer or middle ear. It may be caused by infections, a build-up of earwax or fluid, a perforated eardrum or otosclerosis, which is abnormal bone growth in the ear.

This type of hearing loss is often temporary and in some cases can be corrected or treated with wax removal, medication or surgery.

Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by problems in the cochlea or the auditory nerve. It may be the result of ageing or exposure to loud noise.

Around 90% of hearing problems in adults are related to sensorineural hearing loss. It is usually treated with hearing aids, while in special cases surgical treatment may be required.

Mixed hearing loss combines elements of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This means there is damage both in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear.

The outer or middle ear does not conduct sound properly to the inner ear, while the inner ear does not process sound properly in order to send it to the brain.

Yes. Infection with bacterial meningitis can cause hearing loss at any age. More than 30% of cases of bacterial meningitis result in some degree of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound deafness.

There are more than 200 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, that can cause hearing loss. These are known as ototoxic medications, because they can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Yes. Very loud noise or prolonged exposure to noise can damage your hearing.

Protect your ears from very loud noise and from prolonged exposure even to moderately loud noise, because this can permanently damage the tiny hair cells inside the cochlea.

If the environment is so noisy that you have to raise your voice to be heard, the noise is loud enough to harm your ears. In such situations, use earplugs or other protective equipment.

Book an appointment for a hearing test with a hearing care professional. If hearing loss is confirmed, the specialist will advise you on the available solutions and on what suits you best.

Tinnitus is the perception of a sound when there is no real external source of sound. It is often described as ringing, buzzing, whistling or other sounds that seem never to go away.

Tinnitus can be caused by exposure to loud sounds, excess earwax, ear infections, high blood pressure, sensory nerve disorders and ageing.

Alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and the use of certain medications can also contribute to the onset or worsening of tinnitus.

No. You are not alone. Around 10–15% of the world's population experiences tinnitus on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, there is no complete cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to relieve it. Avoiding loud noise, managing stress, getting enough rest, moderate physical activity and reducing the intake of salt and stimulants can all help to reduce tinnitus.

Competing sounds, such as a radio, white noise devices or a fan, can help to mask the noise you hear in your ears. The ReSound Relief app offers a range of sounds that can help to relieve tinnitus.

Sound therapy uses new sounds that help the tinnitus blend into background sounds and become less bothersome. This can also be tried through the ReSound Relief app.

Tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, but there is a link between tinnitus and hearing loss. Around 4 out of 5 people with tinnitus also have difficulty hearing.

Using a hearing aid to amplify sounds has proven effective in helping to mask tinnitus and make it less distracting. Some hearing aids also have a built-in tinnitus sound generator, offering treatment options for both hearing loss and tinnitus.

You can have a complete hearing test at the clinic of a hearing care professional.

Hearing care representatives and professionals are ready to support you throughout your journey towards better hearing. Contact a specialised hearing centre to book an appointment.

During the hearing test, the specialist will ask you about your lifestyle and your hearing needs. A complete hearing assessment, a video ear examination and a speech discrimination test are then carried out.

These tests help to determine whether you have hearing loss and what the next steps should be.

No. Hearing tests are painless and non-invasive.

The price of a hearing test varies from country to country. In some centres, the hearing test may be offered free of charge.

A routine check is recommended every 10 years up to the age of 50, and at least every 3 years after the age of 50.

Online hearing tests only give a general indication of whether you may have hearing loss. The best way to test your hearing is a complete assessment by a hearing care professional.

If someone close to you has difficulty hearing, you can help by encouraging them to have a professional hearing test. Speak clearly, face the person, avoid speaking from a distance or in noisy environments, and be patient during conversations.

Family support is very important, because many people postpone a hearing check for a long time.

Modern hearing aids convert the sound entering the device into a binary digital code, that is, into 0s and 1s. This information is processed by the signal processing chip inside the hearing aid.

Once processing is complete, the digital signal is converted back into an analogue signal. It is then sent to the speaker of the device and heard by the user.

Yes. There are different types of hearing aids with various features and functions, designed for different needs. A hearing care professional can help you choose the most suitable type of device according to your hearing loss and lifestyle.

The right device for you depends on your hearing loss, your lifestyle, your technological requirements and your aesthetic preferences.

The hearing care professional will assess your needs and recommend devices based on your individual hearing loss, your audiogram and your fitting requirements.

Whether you use one or two devices depends on your hearing loss. However, research shows that speech is easier to understand when hearing aids are worn in both ears.

In normal or noisy environments, one device helps you focus on speech while the other helps reduce background noise. Two devices also help with sound localisation, that is, recognising the direction a sound is coming from.

The price of hearing aids varies considerably and depends on the style, technological features, service, maintenance and the healthcare system of the country where you live.

Buying a hearing aid is an important investment in your future health and well-being. When you buy hearing aids online, they are usually not individually fitted to your needs.

This increases the risk that the devices will be uncomfortable or ineffective, and in the end you may not use them at all. Buying from a hearing care professional gives you not only personalised devices but also ongoing care after the purchase.

Getting used to hearing aids is a gradual process. Start by wearing the devices at home for an hour at a time, several times a day, in different listening environments.

When you feel ready to go out with your new devices, start with quiet environments. At first, avoid large crowds and very noisy places, then gradually use the devices in a variety of situations.

Hearing care professionals recommend a follow-up appointment 2–4 weeks after receiving the devices, so that they can be fine-tuned as needed.

Modern hearing aids are very small and, when worn, are often almost invisible. The casings or shells of the devices come in different shapes, styles and colours to match your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Yes. Modern hearing aids use advanced directional microphone and noise reduction technology, helping you hear better in noisy environments.

The typical lifespan of a new hearing aid is around 5 years.

With a Receiver-in-the-ear (RIE) device, the main part of the hearing aid sits behind the ear, while the receiver is placed in the ear.

With a Behind-the-ear (BTE) device, the receiver is located in the part of the hearing aid that sits behind the ear. Because the RIE receiver is in the ear, RIE devices are usually even smaller than BTE devices.

Hearing aids compensate for the user's hearing loss. They are individually fitted by hearing care professionals, distinguish between different types of sound and amplify them differently, so that a person with hearing loss can focus on important sounds such as speech.

Amplifiers are designed for people with normal hearing who want to boost all sounds equally in certain situations. Amplifiers cannot replace hearing aids for people with hearing loss.

Bluetooth hearing aids use radio waves to connect wirelessly to compatible Apple®, Android™ devices and other wireless accessories.

You can stream phone calls, music, audiobooks, podcasts and other content directly to your hearing aids. In noisy environments, wireless accessories can stream speech directly to the devices for an additional improvement in hearing.

When people talk about invisible hearing aids, they usually mean Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) devices. These are placed inside the ear canal.

Some other models are worn outside the ear. Different types of devices suit different people, but both in-the-ear and behind-the-ear models can be very small and discreet.

A hearing care professional can help you determine which model suits you best. In most cases there is a discreet model that meets your needs.

In-the-ear hearing aids are devices placed inside the ear canal. There are three main types: Invisible-in-Canal (IIC), Completely-in-Canal (CIC) and In-the-Canal (ITC).

All of them are made individually according to the ear impression and ear canal of the user. Although all are small and discreet, IIC devices are the smallest and most discreet, because they are hidden inside the ear canal.

A hearing care professional can determine whether in-the-ear devices are suitable for you and which type is best.

Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) devices are the smallest hearing aids. They are made individually according to the impression of the ear canal and are placed completely inside the canal, making them practically invisible.

Because they are so small, they do not always have room for certain features needed by people with severe hearing loss. For this reason, IIC devices are usually better suited to mild to moderate hearing loss.

For people with more severe hearing loss there are other relatively discreet models available.

Completely-in-Canal (CIC) devices are small, individually made hearing aids placed inside the ear. They are discreet, but slightly larger than the smallest IIC devices.

CIC devices have room for certain features that allow personalisation and control of the sound environment. They are often a good choice for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who want a discreet device and a degree of control over the sound.

As always, a hearing care professional can help you determine which model suits you best.

Receiver-in-the-ear (RIE) hearing aids consist of two main parts. The receiver sits in a small tube that is placed inside the ear with a soft dome. This tube connects to the rest of the device, which is worn behind the ear.

Because the receiver is separate from the rest of the device, RIE hearing aids are usually smaller and more discreet than some other devices worn behind the ear. They are among the most widely used hearing aid styles.

Yes. With dedicated devices such as the ReSound TV Streamer 2, hearing aids can easily be connected to the television. This device streams the television sound directly to your hearing aids from a distance of up to about 7 metres.

The same device can also be used to stream sound from a stereo system or computer to the hearing aids.

Television sound can be improved by connecting the hearing aids to a TV streamer such as the ReSound TV Streamer 2. It streams sound directly from the television, stereo system or computer to the hearing aids.

This makes listening and understanding easier for people with hearing difficulties, while the rest of the family can watch television at a comfortable volume.

Yes. You can try how the devices sound in different listening situations before you leave the hearing care centre.

A hearing care professional may offer payment options for the purchase of devices, including instalment plans or financing, where these are available.

You may also be entitled to benefits through your health insurance. If you are not sure whether your insurance covers hearing aids, contact your insurance company. Your local hearing centre can provide information about payment options and health insurance procedures.

Different health insurance plans may provide cover or a benefit for hearing aids. Contact your insurer if you are not sure what your plan covers.

If you have lost your hearing aids, you can quickly locate them using the “Finder” function in the ReSound Smart and ReSound Smart 3D apps, provided your devices and app support this function.

ReSound hearing aids usually come with a warranty of 1 to 4 years, depending on the model. Since the typical lifespan of a new device is around 5 years, it may be worth asking whether an extended warranty is available.

The aim is complete patient satisfaction, although adapting to amplification can sometimes be difficult. If you are not fully satisfied, the devices can be returned in their original condition, apart from reasonable wear from use, to the centre where they were purchased.

Some important tips for daily care are:

• Switch the device off before going to sleep.
• Leave the battery compartment open overnight so that the internal parts can dry.
• Keep the devices away from extreme heat or cold.
• Remove the devices before using hairspray, perfume sprays, aftershave lotions and similar products.
• Handle the devices with care. If they fall on the floor or receive a hard knock, inform your hearing care professional to make sure they have not been damaged.
• Never immerse them in water and protect them from water and high humidity.
• Keep them away from children and pets.

Let the wet devices dry in a drying device/dehumidifier or with a drying agent. In more serious cases, contact your hearing care professional for assistance.

Use a soft, slightly damp but not wet cloth and/or cleaning products approved for hearing aids. Avoid using alcohol or solvents for cleaning.

Clean the receiver tube and the receiver dome on devices worn behind the ear. Contact your hearing centre if there is a build-up of wax on the dome or on the custom earmoulds that does not clean off easily.

No. Never immerse the devices in water and do not wear them in the sauna, in the shower or while swimming. Protect them from water and moisture and follow the manufacturer's instructions if they get wet.

Excess moisture may require the use of a dehumidifier or a silica-based drying agent, which can be obtained from your hearing care professional. In serious cases, the devices should be checked by the hearing care professional.

Hearing aid batteries can be bought at hearing care clinics, at some pharmacies and online.

The price of batteries varies according to location and purchasing options. In some cases, the cost of batteries may be partly or fully covered by certain health insurance plans.

Yes. Hearing aid batteries come in five sizes, and the right choice depends on the style and size of the device.

The hearing aid industry uses a number and colour coding system for battery packaging to make it easier to buy replacements: 5 – red, 10 – yellow, 13 – orange, 312 – brown and 675 – blue. The sticker on the back of the battery is colour-coded as well.

As a rule, smaller batteries have a shorter life than larger ones.

Store batteries at room temperature, around 18°C to 26°C, for optimal energy retention. Avoid hot or humid places and do not keep them in the refrigerator.

Open the battery compartment of the device every night to prevent moisture build-up and to save battery power.

The shelf life of a battery is around 3 years, but its life during use depends on the style of the device and how often it is used.

Some devices, such as digital hearing aids with advanced features, require more power than analogue devices. The typical battery life in digital devices is 5–7 days.

If you notice a shorter battery life, contact your hearing care professional, as adjustments can sometimes be made to improve it.

Store batteries at a room temperature of 18°C to 26°C, because heat and humidity shorten their life.

Avoid carrying batteries in a pocket or bag where they may touch metal objects such as coins or keys. This can cause a short circuit.

Switch the devices off and open the battery compartment when they are not in use, for better performance and longer battery life.

Used batteries are harmful to the environment and must be disposed of according to local regulations. You can also return them to your hearing care professional for safe disposal.

Seek medical help immediately if a battery is swallowed accidentally.

Seek medical help immediately if a battery is swallowed accidentally. Keep batteries and hearing aids away from infants and children.

Call the vet immediately. Batteries are just as harmful, and sometimes even more dangerous, for animals. Do not wait, as this can be life-threatening for the animal.

Yes. The materials that come into contact with the skin generally do not contain substances that cause the contact allergies identified by standard tests. Nevertheless, if you have a specific allergy, it is advisable to inform your hearing care professional before the device is fitted.

It is rare, but possible, that people with very sensitive skin develop irritation if the device moves against the skin and that area is exposed to moisture, soap or creams containing irritating substances.

A properly fitted device should not move against the skin. If irritation occurs, the fit of the device should be checked by the hearing care professional.

Some devices may contain very small amounts of nickel inside, but it is covered by the outer shell and does not come into contact with the skin.

Some RIE and BTE devices may have small stainless steel pin ends in the outer shell. These may release microscopic amounts of nickel, but since there is no direct contact with the skin, the likelihood of an allergic reaction is very low.

Hearing aids do not contain latex. However, if a device is exposed to latex, for example through the use of latex gloves by a professional, it may become contaminated if it is not cleaned afterwards.

Regular cleaning of the devices is important. Latex allergy is rare in the general population, but it can develop in people who are frequently in contact with latex, such as healthcare workers who use latex gloves every day.

ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a material widely used in medical devices. The styrene contained in ABS is stable and bound within the material.

For this reason, the likelihood that the ABS used in hearing aids would contribute to an allergic reaction is extremely low. If you have a documented allergy, you should discuss this with your hearing care professional before use.