Hearing aid or sound amplifier? What the difference really is

Why people ask

A sound amplifier looks like a shortcut: it is small, sits in the ear and makes things louder. So it is natural to wonder whether a hearing aid is really any different.

What an amplifier does

A personal sound amplifier makes sound louder, and usually makes all sounds louder together. It is not set to your hearing test.

What a hearing aid does differently

• It is programmed to your hearing test, boosting the pitches you miss more than the ones you hear well.
• It works on speech in noise, and manages whistling (feedback) and sudden loud sounds.
• It is fitted, adjusted and fine-tuned at follow-up visits as you settle in.

Louder is not the same as clearer

If the difficulty is understanding words rather than hearing that someone is speaking, making everything louder can make the room louder without making speech clearer. Speech clarity is exactly what a hearing test measures.

Where an amplifier may fit

Some people use an amplifier for occasional situations, such as a quiet evening in front of the television, and it is usually the cheaper option up front. But it cannot tell you why your hearing has changed, and it should not delay a check if you are struggling day to day or if the change came suddenly.

A fair way to decide

• Get a hearing test first. It shows what you actually miss.
• Ask whether a device is set to your test results or has one setting for everyone.
• Ask about follow-up: fine-tuning, cleaning and repairs.
• Try it in the situations that trouble you most.

When it should not wait

Sudden hearing loss, hearing loss in one ear only, severe ear pain, discharge or dizziness need a doctor or ENT specialist promptly, not a routine appointment.