Have you ever heard of a pocket hearing aid? A pocket hearing aid is a type of hearing aid that is easy to use, even for the elderly.
Let's take a closer look at what a pocket hearing aid is.
Features of pocket hearing aids
A pocket hearing aid is also known as a "box" hearing aid. The earphone extends from the main unit and is attached to the ear to listen to sound. They are called pocket hearing aids because the body of the device can be stored in a pocket. At a glance, it looks different from what you would normally imagine a hearing aid to look like, and is more like a sound collector than a hearing aid.
Advantages of pocket hearing aids
What are the advantages of pocket hearing aids over other hearing aids?
- Low cost
- Easy to use
- Battery-operated
Let's take a look at the details.
Low cost
Compared to other sound collectors, pocket hearing aids are inexpensive.
They can be purchased for less than 100,000 yen. Other hearing aids range from less than 100,000 to several hundred thousand, so the price threshold is quite low.
Easy to use
The most attractive thing about pocket hearing aids is that they are simple to operate and can be used by anyone. For example, elderly people may say, "I don't understand it well! and they don't want to use it. The large size of the pocket hearing aid makes it easy to operate, and the volume can be easily adjusted.
Battery-operated
With the exception of some rechargeable hearing aids, ear-mounted and in-the-ear hearing aids are powered by batteries. However, the batteries used in these hearing aids are not the AA or AAA batteries that are often sold in stores. They use air batteries for hearing aids. You can buy hearing aid batteries online, but they are not always available at local stores. In this respect, pocket hearing aids that use commercially available batteries are easy to buy and use, even if the batteries run out. Not to stir the pot, but air batteries for hearing aids are very small, and if dropped and swallowed by a small child, for example, they can cause a chemical reaction that can damage the digestive system, or worse, kill the child. In comparison, commercially available batteries are large and pose little risk of aspiration, which is also an advantage.
Disadvantages of pocket hearing aids
Pocket hearing aids are not without their advantages.
- The body is large and cumbersome
- Cord is in the way
- Wear in one ear
- Touch noise
Let's take a closer look.
The body is large and cumbersome
The size of the body, which is an advantage in terms of ease of use, is also a disadvantage in terms of mobility. It is very conspicuous and, because it is larger than other hearing aids, it often feels like an obstacle in your pocket. Of course, pocket hearing aids have become smaller and lighter than in the past, but their size is still a drawback compared to other hearing aids.
Cord is in the way
If you listen to music on a smartphone or music player with wired earphones, you've probably experienced this before. and the earbuds fall out. Pocket hearing aids also have a cord that dangles from the body of the hearing aid and extends all the way to the ear. This means that there is a chance that the cord could get snagged. Other hearing aids only have a very short cord that goes from the ear to the ear canal, so there is an overwhelming likelihood that the cord will be in the way.
Wear in one ear
Pocket hearing aids are essentially designed to be used in one ear. Therefore, if you have a binaural hearing loss, only one ear will be able to pick up sound. If only one ear can pick up sound, hearing ability is naturally impaired, and there is little advantage in not being able to hear the direction of sound. Of course, not everyone should wear hearing aids in both ears, but basically, it is recommended to use hearing aids in both ears.
Touch noise
Touch noise is the noise that occurs when the cable or main unit rubs against clothing or other objects. This touch noise can interfere with speech that is already difficult to hear. This touch noise can be reduced, for example, by using a stationary hearing aid that is not moved during basic use.
Who is suited for a pocket hearing aid?
- People who do not want to do difficult operations
- People with moderate to severe hearing loss
- People who intend to use it in the home
Although the hearing aids are very simple to use, they are suitable for people who do not move around much because of their large size and long earphone cables. Also, since many of the units are large in size, they tend to have relatively high output. Therefore, even people with more severe hearing loss symptoms can use them, so those people should consider pocket hearing aids as well.
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