Loss of hearing is perhaps as normal, if not more, as losing hair with age. Loss of hearing can also be caused by illness, certain medicines and in a large number of cases; it could be a birth defect.

Loss of hearing, however, can be helped with the use of hearing aides, which are electronic devices that convert sound pressure waves into electricity by a microphone.

The electric impulses are amplified and then reconverted to much more intense sound pressure waves by a receiver. These amplified waves are then presented to the impaired ear. The goal of a hearing aide is to make speech available to a listener, whatever the technology being used.

How do you know you need a hearing aide? Being sensitive to your body's need and catering to its deteriorating parts is a prudent and fulfilling way of life. If you:

1. Find yourself asking people to repeat themselves too often.

2. Feel that you understand them better when you are facing them.

3. Find the need to turn up the volume of television or radio when no one else seems to need it.

Perhaps, it is time to see an audiologist and get an audiometric evaluation (AE) done. It is a painless process and takes a few minutes. An AE helps a certified audiologist evaluate your loss of hearing and prescribe the right course of treatment.

Many hearing problems are a result of earwax and middle ear infections. Before buying a hearing aide, it is imperative to consult an audiologist.

Which hearing aide to choose?

There are various types of hearing aides available in the market today. You need to work with your audiologist to figure out which model suits you best.

In The Ear (ITE) units have the largest custom made styles; In The Canal (ITC) units are smaller and require more dexterity; Mini Canal (MC) units are in between ITE and ITC; Completely In the Canal (CIC) units are the smallest aides produced; Behind The Ear (BTE) are the largest and hugely reliable; and Post Auricular Canal (PAC) is a new device designed to give comfort and acoustic options.

Your audiologist will be able to guide you through these options along with the levels of technologies available in hearing aides. The best technology available is a 100 percent digital aide. This means your hearing aide is a complete computer.

These devices are wonders of 1990's and allow maximum control over sound quality and loudness. They process sound at incredible speed and the output is amazing.

Lastly, if you have suffered hearing loss in both ears, you will need two hearing aides to achieve normal sound balance. Two aides help your central nervous system to process sounds better and filter noise from speech. One aide, no matter how efficient, will give you flat sound!