Description
Hearing aids are one of the most common treatments for hearing loss — but there are still many misconceptions about what they can do.
In this video, Dr. Erica Moore, Director of Audiology at UAMS Health, explains how hearing aids work and what patients should realistically expect. While hearing aids do not restore “normal hearing,” they are powerful tools that significantly improve communication and quality of life.
Dr. Moore also discusses how quickly hearing aid technology is advancing, including the use of artificial intelligence to better reduce background noise and improve clarity in challenging listening environments.
At UAMS Health, hearing aid fittings are personalized and precise. Each device is programmed based not only on a patient’s hearing loss, but also on the unique shape of their ear canal. Patients also receive education on care, maintenance and device settings to help them get the most benefit from their hearing aids.
Learn how modern hearing aids are helping patients hear more clearly and stay connected to the world around them.
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Transcript
There are some misconceptions about hearing aids. One I see quite often is that patients think hearing aids are a cure, and that they will have normal hearing once they get them. Hearing aids are a tool, similar to glasses — they are not perfect, but they are an excellent tool to aid communication and support everyday life.
One of the most exciting things about my job is how quickly hearing aid technology changes. Every year or two, the technology improves significantly. There is so much research and development going into hearing aids right now. Just in the past couple of years, hearing aids have begun using artificial intelligence to classify background sounds and reduce noise. They are now much more precise at reducing background noise than they used to be, which has truly benefited my patients.
When a patient is first fit with hearing aids, the fitting is based on a prescription — and that prescription is not only based on the patient’s hearing loss, but also on the shape and size of their ear canal, which a lot of people do not realize. The programming at the fitting is more precise than many people expect.
The fitting itself takes about an hour. We begin by taking measurements of the ear, then walk the patient through their hearing device — how to maintain it, how to clean it, how to use it, and all of the extra settings and programs they can adjust to customize their hearing experience.
