Kaitlyn Fernandez

Professor Crystal Rodwell 

Composition For Creative Expression FIQWS 10113

November 22,2021

It Could Make A Difference

Hearing aids are defined as “ a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities” according to the national institute on deafness and other communication disorders(NIDCD,2017). Hearing aids are a great alternative for people with a hearing disability because of its benefits. The Benefits that hearing aid users gain are that their mental health improves and that they get the opportunity to listen, which is a gift no one should be restricted from. 

Having hearing aids means you have a disorder known as deafness. deafness, which is considered to be a common disability that some humans sadly possess. Although you can communicate with sign language, you still face challenges everyday because not everyone comprehends such complex language. Everyday, people with deafness are faced with tough challenges because of their inability to hear. They often struggle to communicate, which leads to them not having any confidence at all when speaking to others. Hearing aids are a great alternative because they can boost self-confidence, allow those to have more of an opportunity, socialize more, and have a better understanding of what’s happening around them. 

Hearing aids have been around for sometime now. Since the 13th century, those with hearing loss used animal horns that were hollow, such as cows and rams to better listen. By the 18th century,there was another invention. It was basically a funnel-shaped device that improved hearing. As time went on, more and more devices were created to aid those who suffered from hearing loss. The article Hearing Aid History: From Ear Trumpets to Digital Technology it states that “In 1870, he invented a carbon transmitter for the telephone that amplified the electrical signal and increased the decibel level by about 15 dB. Although amplification of about 30 dB is usually necessary to allow those with hearing loss to hear better, the invention of the carbon transmitter for the telephone paved the way for the technology that would eventually be used for carbon hearing aids”(Valentinuzzi, M.V 2020) The device was made and was in use from 1902 until a couple of years later another device was birthed. The new device was known as ‘vacuum tubes’. It was called that because it increased the volume that’s being heard. The only Negative aspect of the new device was its size. Due to its size, people couldn’t take it to wherever they were headed. People with hearing loss benefited from the new hearing aid devices because later on in the 19th century, the telephone was invented, which would impact the world in a huge way. However, when 1924 came around, the vacuum tube was modified to be smaller. This was huge because it meant that people could take it to places on the go. But then another problem arose. It was still heavy. So fast forward to the year 1938, the first ever portable hearing aid was invented. It connected to the ear and clothing but it needed a battery pack to connect to your leg. In the 1940s that was fixed and now everything was just in one box. By the 20th century, hearing aids that go into the ear were revolutionized and made to the best version it can be. A version where It was portable, small, and easy to connect to the ear.  

Today, people with hearing loss have different types of ways of putting one on but, it depends on how severe your deafness is. According to the national institute on deafness and other communication disorders, there are four different types of ways a hearing aid could be placed(NIDCD,2017).Which are the behind the ear one version one,then the improved version of the behind the ear,after comes in the ear, lastly is the canal. The “behind the ear” hearing aid incorporates a tough plastic case worn behind the ear that connects to a plastic earmold that matches within the outer ear. The electronic components are controlled within the case behind the ear. The new “behind the ear” hearing aid is an open fitted one, meaning that it still would work behind the ear flawlessly  with a skinner tube inserted into the ear canal, leaving some room for ear wax build-up. The “in the ear” hearing aid fits completely on the inside of the outer ear. In the text, it says “Some ITE aids may have certain added features installed, such as a telecoil. A telecoil is a small magnetic coil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid rather than through its microphone. This makes it easier to hear conversations over the telephone. A telecoil also helps people hear in public facilities that have installed special sound systems called induction loop systems.”(NIDCD,2017). Those with hearing loss benefit from the telecoil because it allows them to do daily activities. The last kind of hearing aid goes inside of your ear canal. However, there are two different ways of functioning. In the article, it states “The in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is made to fit the size and shape of a person’s ear canal. A completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid is nearly hidden in the ear canal. Both types are used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.”(NIDCD,2017). Hearing aids could be uncomfortable but the benefits of hearing aids are better than having none. Especially in today’s world. 

Hearing aids are more advanced as of today and more people want to get their hands on one. This device helps those with hearing disabilities to experience sound for the first time and could improve a person’s health in some way. There are six different ways people call hearing loss. Those six names are deaf, oral deaf, Deaf, late-deafened, hard of hearing, and hearing impaired. You may think these are all so similar and may bring up the question as to why they have  so many different names. But the truth is although they look similar, they most definitely aren’t. All six ways are defined differently. In the article “Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Training: A Mentor‐led Workshop” all six are defined, deaf is defined as “people with severe to profound hearing loss when initial onset was congenital and/or pre-lingual. Depending on the primary mode of communication and early intervention, they may refer to themselves as oral deaf or Deaf.”(Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021,P181). The second one known as oral deaf is defined as “people who communicate primarily through aural and oral forms of communication (hearing via hearing aids, cochlear implant, assistive listening devices, and communicate orally through voice/speech). They may also refer to themselves as hard of hearing.”(Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021P181). The third name known as Deaf which is “(uppercase D): used by deaf people who use sign language as their first or preferred form of communication,do not perceive their deafness as a medical disability, and define themselves as part of a cultural and linguistic group often referred to as the Deaf community. They do not view themselves as persons with hearing loss as they do not view their condition as a loss. Rather, they prefer to be called Deaf, or a person with deafness.”(Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021,P181). Fourth is labeled as late-deafened; it is said that “people who have had normal or mild to a moderate degree of hearing loss through most of their life, only to reach a severe to a profound stage of deafness in their later years. Their preference is to communicate solely or primarily through aural and oral forms of communication.” (Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021,P181).The fifth name is hard of hearing which is “people with mild to severe degrees of loss. Onset is typically post-lingual. Some individuals who are oral deaf or late-deafened may also identify themselves as hard of hearing. Their preference is to communicate solely or primarily through aural and oral forms of communication.”(Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021,P181). Lastly we have the name hearing impaired which is “a term used by medical/healthcare professionals and should be reconsidered in its use. It is not preferred by those with hearing loss and deafness, nor is it used by support networks or community organizations that serve deaf and hard-of-hearing populations. It is a medical-based term, it focuses on the disability and is insensitive to the individuality of the person with the disability.”(Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021P181). According to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Training: A Mentor‐led Workshop there is another way to call being deaf “For ease of language we use the term “deaf and hard of hearing” (DHH) to refer to people who call themselves Deaf, oral deaf, hard of hearing, and late-deafened.”Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng,2021,P181). All the different forms of deafness and what humans who are deaf, classify themselves as, they aren’t the same. 

An issue is that many people from around the world are in need of hearing aids. Some people can financially get access to one but some may not. According to the FDA, there is an estimate of 38 million people suffering from a level of hearing loss. The article,“What to Know About Hearing Aid Costs” states that “On average, a set of hearing aids may cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000, or more.”(FDA,2021). Money has always played a huge role in everyone’s life and it’s hard to consider a plan for yourself. The great thing about hearing aids is that there are several ways you can pay for one. One way would be to find an insurance company willing to pay full price for them. A different way is by  paying for the device partially but there’s a catch.  First do research online to see if some stores have deals on them.  Whether they do or not, see if your medicare could cover  the price. If it does, then you can essentially buy it at a slightly reduced price. Another way would be if you have a high-deductible medical health insurance plan, you’ll be able to gain from the use of your own Health Savings Account, known as HSA, or Flexible Spending Account ,which is known as FSA. With this, you can pay for the hearing aids. A different way is by having a payment plan where you pay at a fixed rate monthly rather than all at once. If you’re still struggling you can speak to your doctor about what hearing aid is best in your budget but will work. Also if you’re wondering can every person at any level get a hearing aid the answer is yes but according to the reading What Level of Hearing Loss Requires a Hearing Aid? It is recommended to get a hearing aid if you’re on the second level of hearing loss. 

Hearing aids have great impacts but I’ve learned that not everyone is for hearing aids. An example where we would see that not everyone agrees would be with Heather Artinian family. In the ted talk video, it is mentioned by her family members that hearing aids aren’t needed for them, their family is already used to sign language and they believe the family is already used to the way they are and they like having their family being deaf. I also could say that this family was against it because they never understood why they would even need it if they are already able to communicate with each other. Heather on the other hand she believed there was more than a speaking sign and she made the decision when she became a woman to get these hearing aids implanted. Since then heather has been able to hear sound and to speak out loud. Her confidence is boosted because she is now able to communicate with those who don’t understand sign language. She has more of an opportunity rather than those with hearing loss who don’t have hearing aids. According to the article What’s to know about deafness and hearing loss? It states that “If children with prelingual deafness are given cochlear implants before the age of 4 years, they can acquire oral language successfully.”(Felman, Adam,2018). Having hearing aids is very beneficial especially at a young age because they will learn how to successfully communicate with those around them. Also stated in the article is that “Oral language and the ability to use social cues are very closely interrelated. That is why children with hearing loss, especially those with severe symptoms, may not only experience delayed language development, but also slower social development.”(Felman, Adam,2018). Hearing aids give those with hearing loss more of an opportunity to do more. According to the article Health benefits of hearing aids, it says “In 2020, a team from three U.S. insurers, reporting on a survey of more than 20,000 older adults, observed that people with severe hearing loss who didn’t wear hearing aids were more likely to say they were in poor health and were less likely to leave home or exercise regularly. This was not true of people who wore hearing aids—even if their loss was severe. People who wore hearing aids were also less likely to report depression.”(Ehrenfeld, Temma,2021). As a child, you do gain more of an opportunity in getting hearing aids early but as an adult, it could still better your mental health. 

In our world today we are facing a disease known as Covid-19, this disease has impacted the DHH. According to the article challenges of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the Masked World of COVID‐19, it was said that “People who are hard of hearing usually communicate through spoken or sign language, and can benefit from assistive devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and technology such as captioning, m-health, and loop system.”(Indian Journal of Community Medicine,2021,P11). This is important because sign language is the first way deaf people communicate. At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was more aware of what was going on because of the news but, left those with hearing loss lost and confused because some of the specialists who communicate with the deaf community didn’t know how to communicate covid-19 to them due to it being new. You may be asking why it relates to hearing aids well, post-pandemic those with hearing loss depending on their specialist to learn more but it was also their way of communication but because of the pandemic everyone was told we had to wear masks. This affected DHH because one other way they were able to learn more about communication would be by reading someone’s lips but now that was not an option because of the mask. According to challenges of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the Masked World of COVID‐19, it states “Majority of the parents are unable to fully communicate with their deaf children because they are not fluent in sign language.”(Indian Journal of Community Medicine,2021,P12). The impact this left was having  parents who couldn’t even communicate with their child.Hearing aids played a huge role because although they have sign language others outside don’t know they communicate in that way. 

Hearing aids can be a visual way to those around you, they’re a good thing especially in times like these today with covid-19 because people are more aware of the deaf community. Hearing aids cannot heal a person from hearing loss and make them hear one hundred percent, they do have a great impact when wearing them. Hearing aids can have a person who suffers from hearing loss feeling more happy, more aware and most importantly more of an opportunity. 

                                                             References    

Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Hearing Aids.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 19 Oct. 2021, www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids. 

Garg, Suneela et al. “Challenges of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the Masked World of COVID-19.” Indian journal of community medicine 46.1 (2021): 11–14. Web. https://cuny-cc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUNY_CC/qlf695/cdi_doaj_primary_oai_doaj_org_article_4473224bcc9c4003be331eda56dbed04 

Ehrenfeld, Temma. “Health Benefits.” Healthy Hearing, 16 Apr. 2021, www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/health-benefits. 

Felman, Adam. “What’s to Know About Deafness and Hearing Loss?” What’s to Know about Deafness and Hearing Loss, 27 June 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249285#deafness-and-speech. 

“Hearing Aids.” NIDCD, www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-aids. 

Ham, Jennifer, Angela Towle, and Grace Shyng. “Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Training: A Mentor‐led Workshop.” The clinical teacher 18.2 (2021): 180–185. Web. https://cuny-cc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUNY_CC/qlf695/cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2462414657 

“Not the Hearing or Deaf World | Heather Artinian | TEDxGeorgetown.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDxGeorgetown, 11 Dec. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhm5OaXJVMQ. 

Valentinuzzi, Max. “Hearing Aid History: From Ear Trumpets to Digital Technology – EMBS.” Hearing Aid History: From Ear Trumpets to Digital Technology – EMBS, 30 Oct. 2020, www.embs.org/pulse/articles/hearing-aid-history-from-ear-trumpets-to-digital-technology. 

Whelan, Corey. “What to Know About Hearing Aid Costs.” Healthline, 25 Feb. 2021, www.healthline.com/health/cost-of-hearing-aids.