Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids: What You Need to Know

This article was written by Jami Harris Brooks, Au.D., a HearingLoss.com^®-Certified provider located at Brooks Hearing Clinic in Greenville, Mount Pleasant, Paris, and Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Many people have misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids, leading to hesitation in seeking care. This article provides a clear, fact-based overview of hearing loss, how hearing aids work, and why modern hearing technology can significantly improve your quality of life.

What Is Hearing Loss?

When you have a hearing loss, you are partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears. There’s a lot behind that simple statement, though. Your ear has three parts — the outer, middle, and inner ear — and problems in any of them can result in hearing loss.

Hearing basics

Your ears, nerves, and brain work together so you can hear.

1. Sound waves travel down your ear canal to your eardrum, causing it to vibrate.
2. The vibrations are transferred to three tiny bones in your middle ear, where they’re amplified and sent on to your inner ear.
3. The vibrations enter a fluid-filled cavity in your inner ear and become waves, which bend tiny ribbon-like hearing cells, called hair cells.
4. The hair cells create electrical signals, which your auditory nerve carries to your brain.
5. Your brain pinpoints the sound’s location, focuses, separates out background noise, tries to recognize the sound, and identifies what kind of sound it is.

It all happens effortlessly, unless something happens to interrupt the process. Hearing loss is described in a variety of ways, most typically in terms of type and degree, and it can affect people of all ages.

Types of hearing loss

The three primary hearing loss types are:

• Conductive hearing loss, which happens when something keeps sound waves from reaching your eardrum and middle ear
• Sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when your hair cells are damaged, diseased, or destroyed
• Mixed hearing loss, which is any combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

Degrees of hearing loss

Your audiologist determines the degree, or severity, of your hearing loss by conducting a hearing test. The degrees are:

• Mild hearing loss: With this type, you may have difficulty hearing soft-spoken people, young children, and high-pitched sounds.
• Moderate hearing loss: With this type, you may have difficulty hearing speech spoken at a normal level.
• Severe hearing loss: With this type, you probably won’t hear any speech spoken at a normal level and only some loud sounds.
• Profound hearing loss: With this type, you won’t hear any speech and may hear only very loud sounds.

Other ways to describe hearing loss

Hearing loss can be described based on other characteristics as well, such as:

• Occurring in one ear (unilateral) or in both ears (bilateral)
• Having happened before you learned to talk (pre-lingual) or after (post-lingual)
• Being the same in both ears (symmetrical) or different in each ear (asymmetrical)
• Progressive or sudden
• Fluctuating or stable
• Present at birth (congenital) or appearing later in life (acquired/delayed onset)

Common Causes of Hearing Loss

Many factors contribute to hearing loss, from lifestyle choices to underlying medical conditions. Here are some of the most common factors:

Aging
As you age, the structures in your ears — including the hair cells — naturally break down. As this happens, they can’t transmit sound signals as well, leading to age-related hearing loss (also known as presbycusis).

Loud sounds
Frequently exposing your ears to loud noises, such as music, machinery, or concerts, can damage your hair cells, leading to noise-induced hearing loss.

Ear infections
Ear infections can result in inflammation and fluid buildup in your middle ear, stopping sound waves or eardrum vibrations in their tracks and leading to hearing loss.

Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to hearing loss, which can occur at birth or develop gradually with age.

Ototoxic medications
Certain medications, such as some NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs, can damage the tiny structures in your inner ear, resulting in hearing loss.

Ear canal blockage
Earwax buildup or debris can block sound waves from reaching the eardrum, leading to temporary hearing loss.

Signs You May Have Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is subtle — until it’s not. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to early signs. With the most common type of hearing loss (sensorineural), the hair cells that detect high-pitched sounds are usually the first to be damaged or destroyed. Following are some common signs of early sensorineural hearing loss.

High-pitched sounds are muffled or faint
The voices of women and children typically have a high pitch. When you start losing your ability to hear these sounds, their voices can be hard to understand. Sounds like the doorbell, your smartphone notifications, and the rustle of autumn leaves are also high-pitched, so you might start to miss those, too.

Conversation in noisy places is difficult
Background noise is generally low-pitched, whereas spoken sounds (called consonants, such as “p” and “s”) are high-pitched. With hearing loss, you start mishearing consonants, for example, “cat” might sound like “hat” — but you can hear all the noise around you just fine.

You’re exhausted after social events
When you start regularly mishearing words, your brain must work harder to make sense of what others are saying. That extra focus and effort can leave you tired after socializing. If you’ve been interacting with a group, you could be downright exhausted.

You watch lips more than you make eye contact
Your brain will try to compensate for your hearing loss, and you probably won’t even notice it. One common compensation tactic is lip-reading. In your next few conversations, try to notice whether you do this.

Your ears feel plugged up
That muffled effect brought on by sensorineural hearing loss can feel a lot like being plugged up. If your doctor tells you everything looks clear in your ears, it’s a good idea to get a hearing test.

The TV volume creeps up
When you start mishearing high pitches, or miss them altogether, the music and effects of a TV show or movie can take over. The result? You turn up the volume so you can hear the characters better — and, eventually, others start complaining about it.

How Hearing Aids Work

So what is a hearing aid? Is it just an amplifier that turns up the volume on everything?

Hardly. Today’s hearing aids are sophisticated, advanced technological wonders that zero in on what you want to hear, filter out background noise, and improve your speech comprehension. And that’s just for starters.

Hearing aid components
Hearing aids all have five basic components, arranged differently according to the style of hearing aid. They each include a:

1. Battery
2. Microphone
3. Computer processor
4. Amplifier
5. Speaker (or receiver)

Hearing aids in action
Today’s hearing aids aren’t simply volume maximizers, but how do they work?

Your provider programs your hearing aids based on the results of your hearing test. When your devices amplify sounds, it’s only the sounds based on your needs. Let’s take a look:

Step 1: The hearing aid microphone picks up sounds.
Step 2: The processor analyzes and adjusts the sounds.
Step 3: The sounds are amplified as needed.
Step 4: The speaker transmits the processed and amplified sounds down your ear canal.

Each hearing aid style approaches this process slightly differently. For example, a receiver-in-canal style places the microphone behind your ear and the speaker inside your ear canal.

But an invisible-in-the-canal style must fit all those components together in one tiny package inside your ear canal!

Modern Hearing Aid Features and Technology

Now that you know the basics, let’s move on to what makes the modern hearing aid so amazing.

Standard Hearing Aid features

Even standard-issue features are transforming the way people with hearing loss engage with the world around them.

• Wireless connectivity allows you to stream audio directly to your hearing aids from mobile devices, televisions, and more, for enhanced listening experiences and communication abilities.
• Customizable settings let you use a smartphone app to adjust the volume, sound directionality, and noise-reduction settings of your hearing aids to your unique preferences and environments.
• Speech enhancement prioritizes speech frequencies over background noise, making conversations clearer and more easily understood in challenging listening situations.
• Tinnitus support, usually as sound therapy, is incorporated into many hearing aids now, providing some relief to those experiencing tinnitus, also referred to as ringing in the ears.

Cutting-edge Hearing Aid Features

Advancements in hearing technology never stop, and these are just the highlights of the current crop of exciting developments.

• Smart hearing aids use machine-learning algorithms, a type of artificial intelligence (AI), to adapt more easily to your needs and surroundings.
• Speech enhancement and noise canceling just keep getting better and better, occasionally improving by leaps and bounds.
• Rechargeable batteries have become commonplace in hearing aids, providing a full day of use on a single charge — you simply place them in the charging station overnight.
• Health and fitness tracking uses sensor technology embedded in the hearing aid to monitor vital signs such as heart rate and body temperature.

Over-the-Counter vs. Prescription Hearing Aids: What’s the Difference?

As you can tell, hearing aids are more than simple devices — they are essential tools for better communication and overall quality of life.

Choosing between over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids or prescription hearing aids can greatly impact your hearing experience. While both options address hearing loss, their effectiveness, features, and support differ significantly.

OTC hearing aids
You can purchase OTC hearing aids without a prescription or professional fitting, and they’re readily available online and in retail stores. These devices prioritize accessibility and affordability, making them a popular choice for those new to hearing assistance. They are designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Prescription hearing aids
Prescription hearing aids are programmed by a licensed hearing care provider to match an individual’s unique hearing loss and lifestyle needs. These devices are fitted after thorough hearing tests and are recommended for all levels of hearing loss, including severe or complex cases.

It’s an important decision — for more, see this article, which answers 10 of the most essential questions to help you find the best solution for your hearing needs.

The Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss Early

Supports cognitive health
Hearing loss has been linked to increased risk for dementia. But one study suggests that properly fit hearing aids and audiologic counseling could slow the rate of cognitive decline up to 48% among higher-risk older adults.

Decreases fall risk
Sounds help us stay balanced, so living with hearing loss increases your risk of falling. But on the flip side, hearing aid use is, indeed, linked to lower fall risk.

Reduces fatigue
When you live with untreated hearing loss, you use a lot of energy trying to hear and understand speech. In fact, it’s common to feel mentally and physically drained after socializing. But treating your hearing loss means you waste far less energy trying to hold a conversation.

Improves relationships
When untreated hearing loss makes conversations challenging, the important people in your life get frustrated. Treating your hearing loss restores the ease of this crucial part of any stable relationship.

Common Questions About Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids

What are the most common signs of hearing loss?

Common signs include difficulty following conversations in noisy places, turning up the TV volume higher than others prefer, feeling fatigued after social interactions, and struggling to hear high-pitched sounds like doorbells or children’s voices.

Can hearing loss affect my overall health?

Yes. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline, increased fall risk, social withdrawal, and fatigue. Addressing hearing loss early supports brain health, balance, and overall quality of life.

Do hearing aids just make everything louder?

Not at all. Modern hearing aids are advanced medical devices that separate speech from background noise, enhance clarity, and adapt to your environment. They’re designed to help you hear better — not just louder.

How do I know if I need hearing aids?

The best way is to get a hearing evaluation from a certified provider. Online screeners can give you an indication, but only a professional test can determine your type and degree of hearing loss — and whether hearing aids or another treatment is right for you.

Can hearing aids help with tinnitus (ringing in the ears)?

Many modern hearing aids may help with tinnitus. These hearing aids include tinnitus management features, such as sound therapy, that can help reduce the perception of ringing and provide relief.

Are hearing aids noticeable?

Today’s devices are smaller, sleeker, and more discreet than ever — some are virtually invisible when worn. Many styles also connect wirelessly to your phone, TV, and other devices for seamless everyday use.

How HearingLoss.com Can Help You Find a Hearing Care Provider

HearingLoss.com has the Guided Hearing Experience, an online hearing screener that will help you understand your challenges, provide you a complete hearing profile, and offer recommendations for the road ahead.

But the online hearing screener, an important tool, can’t replace a comprehensive hearing exam by a HearingLoss.com professional. You deserve expert hearing loss solutions that improve your life. Armed with your results, you can use HearingLoss.com to find a HearingLoss.com-Certified professional, someone who’s dedicated to providing the highest levels of patient care and clinical best practices.

With the right knowledge and expert support, you can take control of your hearing health. Find a certified provider near you today and take the first step toward clearer hearing and a better quality of life.

References

• Campos, L., Prochazka, A., Anderson, M., Kaizer, A., Foster, C., & Hullar, T. (2023). Consistent hearing aid use is associated with lower fall prevalence and risk in older adults with hearing loss. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 71(10), 3163–3171. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.18461. Accessed March 26, 2025.
• Lin, Frank R., & Ferrucci, L. (2012). Hearing Loss and Falls Among Older Adults in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(4), 369–369. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.728. Accessed April 1, 2025.‌‌
• Lin, Frank R., et al. (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 402(10404), 786–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01406-x. Accessed March 26, 2025.

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At Brooks Hearing Clinic, we believe that better hearing leads to a better life. Our knowledgeable, friendly team is here to help you hear and live your best life. Patients trust us with their hearing loss, tinnitus, cochlear implant and bone-anchored hearing aid needs. We personalize treatment to your specific needs, following clinical best practices and using cutting-edge technology to ensure the best possible hearing results. Nothing is more important to us than helping you stay connected to what matters most in your world. Count on us to be by your side for every step of your better-hearing journey! Visit us at our Greenville, Mount Pleasant, Paris, or Sulphur Springs locations in Texas.