Perhaps you find yourself at a crossroads. You need help with hearing, but the options are wide. There are cochlear implants, and then there is the hearing aid. The options are a lot to examine with different styles and features. You may be wondering what is the difference between the two.

A hearing aid amplifies sound. So, the sound is directed to the middle and outer ear. The sound reaches the hair cells in the inner ear which transform the sound into a signal that the brain recognizes. Once in this form, it can be recognized by the auditory nerve, which gives it meaning. When these hair cells are damaged, they don’t recognize sound at all or can become distorted. A cochlear implant can take over the job of the hair cells or bypass it. So who is a candidate for cochlear implants?

A good candidate would be someone with a deep loss. Perhaps this solution will work for someone who is not having success with any other amplification device. A hearing aid is good for someone with mild to severe hearing loss. Therefore, not everyone will be a good candidate for cochlear implants, and most should try other options first. Amplification devices often offer a trial period. They also offer a follow-up appointment to verify proper fit. It’s a good idea to come back for this appointment and see if this trial period might benefit you. If you are looking for a device for adults or children for the first time, a trial may be a good idea. This is likely to cost you, so read the terms carefully.

If you don’t notice an improvement in hearing with one of these devices, it may be time to consider a cochlear implant. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option. Advantages include ease of use, easier phone use, more natural-sounding voices, and the ability to bypass hair cells if they are the cause of deafness, which may offer help to some who may not have been successful with others amplification devices. Disadvantages include the need for surgery, the level of trust in an audiologist, and the overall expense.

There is certainly room in the hearing loss industry for both units. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages. A hearing aid allows for less compromise and helps many people turn up the sound in their world every day. A cochlear implant can reach people who need more than just amplification. A cochlear implant can allow someone who has been deaf to benefit from hearing.