Hearing Aids and Speech Intelligibility Enhancement

Abstract

Hearing is a crucial human sense, and its loss significantly impacts a patient's daily life. Hearing loss, the inability of the ear to convert sound waves into interpretable signals by the brain is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. According to WHO, 1.5 billion people suffer from hearing loss, 25% are over 60, and 80% live in low- and middle-income countries. Hearing loss in childhood leads to underdeveloped speech and learning difficulties. Hearing loss generally leads to social isolation, reduced community participation, and lower educational and employment opportunities. People with mild to severe loss use hearing aids, while the profoundly deaf use sign language. Accessible communication aids promote social and economic sustainability. Hearing aid technologies have evolved, focusing on rechargeable batteries and recycling programs. Innovations include smartphone-based hearing aid apps and machine learning for sound enhancement. Policies supporting obtaining hearing aids and services are crucial for sustainability and well-being.