Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices for Hearing Loss

Doctors at NYU Langone evaluate the results of your physical exam and hearing test to determine if you are a candidate for a hearing aid in one or both ears. Many people with sensorineural hearing loss—which affects the inner ear—find that hearing aids improve their ability to hear and have a positive effect on their quality of life.

Hearing aids come in a variety of models, sizes, and styles, but the basic components are similar. They consist of a tiny microphone that picks up sound and transmits it through an amplifier to make the sound louder. This amplifier acts as a miniature loudspeaker inside your ear. Hearing aids can be equipped with volume or program controls, allowing you to adjust the amplifier, depending on your environment. Some hearing instruments can now be streamed via Bluetooth^® to your mobile devices and to your television.

Our audiologists help you select the right hearing aid and demonstrate how it works. They also ensure that it fits well and provide follow-up counseling as you get used to the device.

There are some situations in which a hearing aid is not enough to help you hear well. For example, talking on the telephone or attending a play may be a challenge, even with a hearing aid.

In these situations, an assistive listening device may be helpful. These small devices, which may resemble a portable music player, are designed to work in specific situations—for example, to amplify a telephone handset or to plug into your television or computer.

Assistive listening devices are available for sale at many online retailers and for one-time use at theater box offices. Our audiologists can provide more information about what assistive listening devices may help you and how to obtain them.