How do hearing amplifiers work?

If you have mild or moderate hearing loss and are finding it a struggle to hear conversations or the TV at a normal volume, you could benefit from a hearing amplifier.

Hearing amplification devices enhance the volume of sounds and make it easier for you to hear comfortably.

At Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care, our expert audiologists will help you identify the best device for you.

What is a hearing amplifier?

Hearing loss affects a huge number of people – around 11 million in the UK live with a hearing loss, so you’re not alone. Much like a tiny personal PA system, hearing amplification devices use microphones to capture nearby sounds or conversation, processing the sound and then delivering it to your ear at a higher volume.

What kind of devices are available?

Action on Hearing Loss – a charity formerly known as the RNID – offers plenty of hearing amplifiers designed to help you while on the telephone and watching TV, and for in-person conversations too. Take a look at the Phonak Roger Pen, or browse the Action on Hearing Loss website.

You can also buy directly from the manufacturer. UK firms like Connevans produce a wide range of amplifiers for a variety of situations. You can take a look at its TV amplifiers here.

But for an all-purpose solution, it’s hard to beat a hearing aid.

What’s the difference between a hearing aid and a hearing amplifier?

All electronic hearing aids contain sound amplifiers, but some hearing aids can be programmed to fit the hearing loss of a particular individual. This makes them more suitable for severe hearing loss.

Hearing amplifiers provide a boost in volume, making them appropriate for people with moderate hearing loss who just need local sounds to be a little louder in order to hear comfortably.

Induction loops

An induction loop is a hearing aid amplifier, and works with your hearing aid to reduce, or even cut out background noise. Loops can be set up in noisy environments, including meeting rooms and cinemas, to help people hear what’s important.

An induction loop is a thin cable running around any listening area, such as a room, office or theatre. An amplifier, connected to microphones or the listening area’s PA system, feeds an electric current into the loop. The current produces a harmless magnetic field, and if you’re within the loop area, this field will be picked up by setting your hearing aid – or loop listening aid – to the ‘T’ setting (which stands for ‘telecoil’).

You can ask our audiologists about hearing induction loops, or infrared systems, and how they can be used with Leightons’ hearing devices.

Leightons free hearing test

Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care offers a free hearing test in all branches. We provide a comprehensive hearing check carried out by our experts – professionally trained hearing aid audiologists registered with the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) and members of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists.

Book your free hearing test now

You can book an appointment online or you can call us on 0800 40 20 20 to arrange a free hearing test at your nearest Leightons branch. Alternatively, you can take the test at home. This involves the same experienced, professional audiologist you would see in branch coming to your home to carry out your hearing test with specialist portable equipment.

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The perfect couple: Your hearing aid and smartphone
The perfect couple: Your hearing aid and smartphone
Every day, everywhere you go, you carry around a hi-def camera, a TV, a radio, a computer, an entire library, and a telephone, all at once. Yes – your smartphone is an incredible feat of technology. If you suffer from hearing loss, a smartphone combined with a hearing aid can transform your world. Maybe you’ve started to turn up the radio in the car, or you’re now relying on subtitles to enjoy your favourite TV programme. Hearing aids are smarter than ever before. Hearing aids that are even better with a smartphone Oticon Opn The world’s first internet-connected hearing aid – so you won’t be surprised to learn that it connects to your smartphone. Read more about the Oticon Opn. ReSound LiNX2 ReSound created the first ‘Made for iPhone’ hearing aid, so they know what they’re talking about when it comes to smartphone connectivity. Read more about the ReSound LiNX2. Mobile connectivity So why all the fuss about linking your hearing aid to a smartphone? Let’s take Oticon Opn hearing aids as an example: Oticon ON app lets you access a world of entertainment at the touch of a button. You can stream audio from one compatible device directly into your ear, at the volume that’s right for you. From TV to radio and even in the car, you have control. And it lets you adjust settings without having to faff about with fiddly buttons and switches on your hearing aid. Hearing aids for iPhone and Android Not having an iPhone doesn’t mean you’re missing out on the era of mobile connectivity either. There are many other devices on the market, including Phonak’s Audeo B-Direct, which are compatible with Android smartphones like Samsung’s Galaxy series. How hearing aids and smartphones talk to each other Perhaps the only technology to be named after a Norse king, Bluetooth is a form of wireless connection – think of it like a short-range, less energy intensive version of Wi-Fi. Hearing aids with Bluetooth can connect to your smartphone and other personal devices. This is because it creates a personalised listening experience. The audio can be streamed straight to your ears and can match the personal settings of your hearing aids. And if you’re a music buff you can transform your hearing aids into your very own wireless earphones. You can even decide whether you want to stream audio to just one hearing aid or both. Hearing care If you’d like more information on the type of hearing aid that’s right for you, or you’d like to book a free hearing assessment, then talk to our friendly team of Leightons experts on 0800 40 20 20. You can also pop into your nearest Leightons branch or book an appointment online.
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