For information on hearing aid services at Johns Hopkins, visit the Division of Audiology site on hearing aids. Hearing loss affects nearly 30 million people in the US each year. Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by noise, injury, infection, aging, certain medications, birth defects, tumors, problems with blood circulation or high blood pressure, and stroke.
Hearing aids are electronic or battery-operated devices that can amplify and change sound.
A microphone receives the sound and converts it into sound waves. The sound waves are then converted into electrical signals. There are many different types of hearing aids on the market, with companies continuously inventing newer, improved hearing aids everyday. However, there are four basic types of hearing aids available today. Consult your physician or view the Johns Hopkins Audiology site for additional information.