Change text size: S M L Home ... Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness Hearing Aids On this page: How Common Is Hearing Loss and What Causes It? How Can I Find Out if I Have Hearing Loss? How Can Hearing Aids Help? ... Where Can I Get Additional Information? What is a hearing aid? A hearing aid is an electronic, battery-operated device that amplifies and changes sound to allow for improved communication. Hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, which then converts the sound waves to electrical signals. The amplifier increases the loudness of the signals and then sends the sound to the ear through a speaker. Top How common is hearing loss and what causes it? Approximately 28 million Americans have a hearing impairment. Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the United States, affecting people of all ages, in all segments of the population, and across all socioeconomic levels. Hearing loss affects approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18. Incidence increases with age: approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have hearing loss. Hearing loss can be hereditary, or it can result from disease, trauma, or long-term exposure to damaging noise or medications. Hearing loss can vary from a mild but important loss of sensitivity, to a total loss of hearing. How do we hear? | |
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