A hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. A hearing aid can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations.

There are many types of hearing aids, such as behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC). Selecting a type that’s right for you depends on a number of factors, including the severity of hearing loss, size and shape of your ear, personal preferences, ease of handling and new hearing aid technologies.

Your degree and type of hearing loss will help determine which hearing aid you need. For example, people with severe or profound hearing loss may need a hearing aid that can be customized for the exact sounds they can't hear. But if you have mild or moderate hearing loss, you will have a wider range of choices.

Store your hearing aids in a safe, dry place away from children and pets. Turn off your hearing aids when you are not using them. Periodically clean the battery contacts and remove any visible earwax or debris with a clean cloth. Change filters or wax guards to remove wax and dirt that may deter sound quality.

My hearing aids aren't producing any sound (or my hearing aids are "dead") My hearing aids aren't loud enough. My hearing aids sound "funny" or distorted. My hearing aids are "whistling" or producing feedback.

Give yourself some time to adjust to the new sounds and the way the hearing aids feel in your ear. Your hearing aid specialist may recommend slowly increasing the amount of time you wear them for over several weeks or months.