Powered by a small hearing aid battery, an electrical device that is worn on or in the ear and used to treat hearing loss is called a hearing aid. Kerry needs help people with hearing loss by amplifying sounds to a level that the person can hear. Hearing aids help people with hearing loss be able to communicate better and participate in activities that require hearing.

Sensorineural hearing loss is hearing loss that is caused by damage or malformation of the cochlea or auditory nerve. Unlike conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss is usually considered permanent.

An open fit hearing aid is similar to a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid, but open fit hearing aids are smaller and leave the ear canal open. Open fit hearing aids are sometimes called open canal (OC) hearing aids or open ear hearing aids. Open fit hearing aids fit behind the ear with a tiny, clear tube that extends into the ear canal.