Hearing Amplifier
Some people only have mild hearing loss, but still experience
trouble hearing at parties, in movie theaters or crowded locations.
Hearing aids can be expensive, so many of those in this situation turn
to hearing amplifiers.
Unlike a conventional hearing aid, which has a microphone on or very
near the earbud that conveys the sound to the listener, most hearing
amplifiers house the microphone in a small case the wearer can clip
somewhere, set down or hold. This reduces the complexity of the device,
and thus it’s cost.
However, a conventional hearing aid is tailored to the wearer –
an audiologist determines what frequencies the wearer has difficulty
hearing and adjusts the settings on the hearing aid accordingly. Most
hearing amplifiers simply increase the volume of all noise, although
some feature equalizers to allow fine-tuning. The external microphone
can also be inconvenient because it will loudly transmit sounds of fabric
rustling against it or being set down on a table. Some higher end hearing
amplifiers use the behind the ear configuration of a conventional hearing
aid, bypassing this problem, although they tend to be more expensive.