Hearing aids are most commonly used to help people with sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathways that transmit sound to the brain. However, they can also be used to help people with conductive hearing loss, which occurs when sound is unable to reach the inner ear due to problems with the outer or middle ear. The three most important things to know about hearing loss and hearing aids are:

• It is important to have a hearing evaluation performed by an audiologist to determine the type and degree of hearing loss and to determine if hearing aids are appropriate.
• Hearing aids are most effective for mild to moderate hearing loss, but can also be helpful for people with more severe hearing loss.
• Hearing aids do not restore hearing to normal, but can improve an individual's ability to communicate and participate in daily activities.