Looking at hearing aids reviews highlights better than any other process just how sophisticated these life enhancing devices have become in recent decades.
It's a tautology to say that hearing aids were created to help improve the hearing of people with hearing problems.
While that is obviously true and is by far the most important factor involved, it's not the sole factor.
Convenience and appearance are secondary but nevertheless important considerations when choosing an aid.
Some people are more conscious than others about how they look.
But these are factors that, to some may not seem important, but, nevertheless cannot be ignored.
Most people with impaired hearing would opt for the least conspicuous devise on one conditions.
That is if all other considerations were equal.
In others words, if tiny and not so tiny devices performed to the same standard, and were much the same price, most people would go for the tiny alternative.
But all things are not equal and even if such were the case, other criteria come into play.
For example, some could find a very tiny appliance difficult to handle and adjust, whatever about it being more discreet.
They may also find that the device gets clogged with wax more frequently and is awkward to clean.
Finally, they may find that the shorter duration of the battery charge is an unacceptable nuisance.
Ironically it is estimated that only about a fifth of people who would benefit from using a hearing aid actually acquires one.
I may be that their impairment happened gradually, or they have become used to.
So for people who suspects that they may not have the best hearing, it's well worth while to at least consider getting it tested.
There are essentially three common types of hearing aid.
These are: In the Ear aids (ITE), In the Canal aids (ITC) and Behind the ear aids (BTE).
These categories can be further subdivided but are accepted as the main ones.
The difference between an ITE aid and an ITC aid is that the entire ITE unit is placed in the outer ear, whereas, an ITC aid is made to fit the specific user's ear and canal shape.
Indeed some can be inserted almost completely in the canal and are all but invisible to others.
This last type has the acronym CIC (Completely In Canal).
Some ITE aids have additional built-in hearing enhancing features.
One of these is called a "telecoil.
" This essentially enables the hearing aid pick up nearby resonating electromagnetic waves of the type emitted around the earpiece of a telephone.
The telecoil equipped aid can make it much easier for wearers to clearly hear conversation on a telephone.
Some public spaces like auditoriums in cinemas, theatres and schools have installed sound and public address facilities called "induction loop" systems.
As well as the normal sound waves, the electromagnetic waves created by the sound system can be picked up by people wearing telecoil enhanced hearing aids.
They can have a truly transforming effect on the quality of life of hearing impaired people in such environments.
There are two types of BTE systems.
Both types consist of a small plastic case worn behind the ear.
One type is linked to a moulded earpiece in the outer ear, which essentially houses a small speaker.
The other type referred to as an "open fit" aid has a tiny tube inserted into the ear canal.
This tube is narrow enough to enable the canal to remain open.
Because the canal is open, the wearer's own voice sounds much more normal to them.
This sort of aid also has the advantage of not been as badly effected by ear wax as other types.
In both BTE systems, the section behind the ear holds the electronics (including the microphone) and the battery.
Some hearing aids reviews can go into considerable technical detail.
This one is meant as a short overview of the main types.
Detailed information can be obtained from manufacturers' websites and literature.