Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Treatment Options Jodi A. Cook, PhD, David B. Hawkins, PhD  Mayo Clinic Proceedings  Volume 81, Issue 2, Pages 234-237 (February 2006) DOI: 10.4065/81.2.234 Copyright © 2006 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions

FIGURE 1 Understanding the audiogram. Frequency in cycles per second or Hertz (the physical correlate of pitch) is plotted on the abscissa, and intensity in decibels (the physical correlate of loudness) is plotted on the ordinate. Threshold results from a typical patient with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss are depicted on the graph for the right ear (O), the left ear (X), and bone conduction (Λ). Letters within the shaded area indicate the typical frequency and intensity of that speech sound. ANSI = American National Standards Institute. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2006 81, 234-237DOI: (10.4065/81.2.234) Copyright © 2006 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions

FIGURE 2 Four basic styles of hearing aids fitted to a woman's ear. Upper left, Behind-the-ear style. Upper right, In-the-ear style. Lower left, In-the-canal style. Lower right, Completely-in-the-canal style. For all hearing aids, the portion in the ear canal is custom-fitted to the patient. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2006 81, 234-237DOI: (10.4065/81.2.234) Copyright © 2006 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions