Hearing aid Facts for Kids

A pair of modern hearing aids that sit behind the ear.

An in-the-ear hearing aid.

A modern hearing aid that fits behind the ear.

A modern behind-the-ear hearing aid with a small battery.

A hearing aid is a small electronic device that helps people hear better. It fits either inside or behind a person's ear. The main job of a hearing aid is to make sounds louder and clearer. This helps people hear spoken words, music, and other sounds more easily.

Before modern hearing aids, people used "ear trumpets" or ear horns. These were cone-shaped tubes that collected sound and directed it into the ear.

Discover Different Types of Hearing Aids
How Hearing Aids Work
Images for kids
See also

Discover Different Types of Hearing Aids

There are many kinds of hearing aids available today. Each type is designed for different needs and lifestyles. An audiologist (a hearing specialist) can help choose and adjust the best hearing aid for someone. They make sure it works perfectly for the user.

In-The-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

These are the smallest type of hearing aid.
They fit right inside the ear canal.
ITC aids are best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

In-The-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

These are a bit larger than ITC aids.
They fit inside the outer part of the ear, not just the canal.
ITE aids can help people with mild to severe hearing loss.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

These hearing aids sit behind the ear.
A small tube connects them to a custom-made piece that fits inside the ear.
BTE aids are usually the largest type.
They can be used by almost anyone with hearing loss.
Many BTE models offer lots of different features.

Different types of hearing aids.

How Hearing Aids Work

Hearing aids work by taking sounds from the world around you and making them louder and clearer. They have three main parts:

Microphone: This part picks up sounds from your surroundings.
Amplifier: This part makes the sounds louder.
Speaker (or Receiver): This part sends the amplified sounds into your ear.

Modern hearing aids are like tiny computers. They can be programmed to fit a person's specific hearing loss. Some even connect wirelessly to phones or other devices!

Images for kids

A sign shows a "Hearing Induction Loop" system. This helps hearing aid users hear announcements directly.
A hearing aid with an audio boot.
A DAI plug, used to connect hearing aids to other devices.
Madame de Meuron using an ear trumpet long ago.
A hearing aid shop in Dublin, Ireland.
An old vacuum tube hearing aid from 1944.
An older body-worn hearing aid that used transistors.
A pair of BTE hearing aids with earmolds.
Receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids.
An in-the-ear hearing aid.
An in-the-canal hearing aid.
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids, almost invisible.
A woman wearing a bone-anchored hearing aid.
A person getting a hearing aid fitted.
Oticon hearing aids that can connect to Bluetooth devices.
A Phonak wireless FM system for hearing aids.