If you have trouble hearing someone on the phone, struggle to understand announcements at airports, or can no longer enjoy a movie at the cinema, these may be the first signs of hearing loss.
Hearing aids do not cure hearing loss, but they are an effective tool for hearing better by amplifying the sounds you are missing.
Consulting a hearing professional—an audiologist, an otolaryngologist (ENT), or a hearing aid specialist—allows you to determine, through a series of evaluations and hearing tests, whether you have hearing loss and what type it is.
Depending on your needs, the professional may recommend hearing aids or Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs). PSAPs are intended for people without hearing impairment in specific situations (bird watching, for example), whereas hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the FDA and adapted for hearing loss.
Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss occurs when the ability to perceive or understand certain sounds diminishes. Every sound we hear has a specific frequency (pitch) and intensity (volume), the latter being measured in decibels (dB).
As hearing loss progresses, you may lose the ability to perceive soft sounds in certain frequency ranges—often starting with high-pitched sounds, such as birds singing or certain consonants (/s/, /f/, /th/). This is known as an increase in the hearing threshold, which is the minimum volume at which a sound becomes audible.
Hearing aids amplify the sounds you no longer hear correctly and restore them to a higher, more accessible level—without over-amplifying those you already perceive clearly.
Over-the-Counter vs. Prescription Hearing Aids
The main difference between over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and prescription ones lies in the degree of customization:
Prescription hearing aids are programmed by a professional based on your audiogram (the results of your hearing test), which allows for precise adjustments at specific frequencies. They are most suitable for people with complex hearing needs and offer benefits such as long-term fine-tuning, professional follow-up, and more advanced background noise management.
Over-the-counter hearing aids, such as the EV1 and EV3 from CLARIA, are designed for adults who believe they have mild to moderate hearing loss and do not require a hearing test. These devices often use preset sound profiles that enhance speech while reducing some ambient noise. They are not individually programmed, but still rely on modern digital technology and cost significantly less.
"Amplifying sound is only part of what hearing aids do. CLARIA hearing aids use advanced digital processing to improve clarity and reduce unwanted noise." — Dr. Drew Sutton, Board-Certified ENT
Many modern hearing aids also feature rechargeable batteries, multiple listening modes, and sleek designs—whether in-the-ear or behind-the-ear—that suit a wide range of users.
Different Types of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids come in several styles, including:
In-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-canal (CIC) – discreet and custom-molded to fit inside the ear canal
In-the-ear (ITE) – housed in the outer part of the ear
Behind-the-ear (BTE) – placed behind the ear, with a tube or wire that carries sound into the ear canal
When choosing a hearing aid, also consider criteria such as volume control, rechargeable battery, trial period, and warranty.
If you are ready to hear better without the high cost of traditional hearing aids, click here to learn more. CLARIA’s mission is to help you hear clearly at an affordable price.
Sources:
Degree of Hearing Loss | asha.org
Hearing aids: How to choose the right one | mayoclinic
What Noises Cause Hearing Loss? | NCEH
