If you are to believe statistics, there are more than 500 million people around the world who experience some form of hearing loss. In fact in the US alone there are more than 28 million people who have some form of hearing loss or the other.

The only solution as of now for hearing loss is to use a hearing aid. A hearing aid is nothing but a miniaturized amplifier that amplifies the signals that enter the ear, thus improving hearing. Although hearing aids are not very new (they've been around for nearly a century now) there are still some questions that everyone has about them, including how the newer ones work.

Find below some of the most frequently asked questions

Q. Will using a hearing aid damage my hearing even more

A. Most modern hearing aids come with a feature where the maximum volume is restricted to a safe limit. This will ensure that you cannot, even inadvertently, damage your hearing further. This is also the reason why you need a specific device in case you are really hard of hearing. These devices will have an increased limit, allowing you to hear properly.

Q. Will wearing hearing aids cure my problem

A. As of now there is no known cure for hearing problems. All that a hearing aid does is improve your hearing by amplifying all the sounds.

Q. Why does everything become much louder after I wear my hearing aid

A. There can be two reasons for this, one is that you have turned the volume control way up, the other is that most times, when people lose their hearing, it is not a sudden thing. It occurs over a long time, sometimes years, and over this time, many of the noises that seem natural to others, like the refrigerator running, or traffic noise would not even have registered for us.

Now all of a sudden we can hear everything, and we will have to relearn to ignore background noises from those that we want to hear.

Q. Which ones are better, behind the ear ones, or inside the ear ones

A. In terms of functionality, there is absolutely no difference. Everything comes down to the aesthetics of the user. Some users do not want a visible hearing aid and go in for inside the ear ones, while others prefer the ones that they wear on their ear lobes because it is more comfortable.

Even here, there are hearing devices that are modeled to your own ear so that they can be as comfortable as they possibly can, while there are others that are basically one size fits all that may not be as comfortable.

Q. Will I be able to use my mobile phone with them in

A. That depends. There are a few hearing aids that do allow this, while others do not. You will have to get one that does work with your mobile. There are also hearing aids that can connect to your mobile device through Bluetooth so that you don't have to take it out of your pocket to talk. These are all features that are given as extra, and a glance through the specs will give you what information you require.

Q. Do I need two or is one sufficient

A. If you can afford it, go with two. This means that your hearing on both sides will be equal allowing your brain to calculate things like direction of sound, distance from sound, etc. With only one, this is not possible. Yet there is absolutely no difference to the actual hearing, and you can hear just as well with one as with two. Wearing two only improves the quality of your hearing, making it almost like normal.

Q. How much do they cost on average

A. That depends on the brand you are going in for. Generally the more expensive ones are both more comfortable as well as give you additional features like background noise suppression, auto loud noise suppressor etc. They will also be made specifically to your needs and be much much more comfortable. These hearing aids can cost you anywhere between $400 and $4000.

You get ones for as little as $30 too, but it is best to stay away from them because you will regret getting them within just a few days. A good compromise would be to go with the ones that cost around the $250 mark. For example the Lee Major's Bionic hearing aid costs only $399 but is an inside the ear one that is hardly visible. This kind of model generally costs more than twice this price, plus this one is rechargeable too.

Q. Where do I get a good hearing aid

A. Going to a good store near you that deals only with hearing aids is the best idea. Unfortunately this is not always possible as they are not very common. The next best option is to check on the different brands online to identify a good one, and then purchase it. You can even buy them online and as long as you go with a reputed brand, there's absolutely no issues whatsoever.