Download Hearing Aids

HEARING
AIDS
BY CHRISTIAN CHIPOURAS
WHAT IS A HEARING
AID?
• A hearing aid is a device used to regulate and amplify
sound for the user
• Hearing aids are used by the partially deaf but not the
completely deaf
• They can greatly improve the hearing of someone partially
deaf but it cannot cure or help complete deafness.
• Placed either in and or around the ear
• They have 4 major parts: the
microphone, battery, amplifier,
and receiver
HISTORY
•
Late 1700s: Early hearing aids consisting of
a horn and a long thin tube that concentrated
the sound to the ear were created. These
were known as ear trumpets
•
In the 19th century hearing trumpets were
mass produced to aid the hearing impaired
and partially deaf
•
In 1898 the first carbon-type hearing aid was
made due to the invention of the carbon
microphone.
•
In 1899 The first carbon-type hearing aid was
patented by Miller Reese Hutchinson
•
In 1920 vacuum tubes were added to the
hearing aids to improve sound quality and
clarity.
HISTORY CONT.
• In 1952 the first hearing aid with an on/off switch was
created. This new model was known as a transistor
hearing aid
• In the 1990’s digital hearing aids were created allowing
clearer and better hearing for the user
• 2000s- much smaller hearing aids were produced and are
barely visible on the user.
THE HEARING AID
TODAY
•
Today there are 5 Major types of hearing
aids
•
Behind the ear hearing aids (BTE)-can
be used for slight to nearly complete
hearing loss
•
On the ear hearing aids(also known as
mini BTE’s)- less visible version of
BTE’s
•
In the ear hearing aids (ITE) –Very large
and fits in ear
•
In the canal hearing aids (ITC) -fits in ear
canal used for mild hearing loss
•
Completely in canal hearing aids (CIC)used for mild hearing loss very difficult
to adjust and maintain
THE HEARING AID
TODAY CONT.
• The newest hearing aids are small and
self-adjust to allow clearer hearing.
They also adjust when the user enters
loud areas allowing the users inner-ear
not to be harmed
• The newest hearing aids can wirelessly
receive sounds from electronic devices
such as computers and T.V.’s
• The digital hearing aid has become the
main type of hearing aid used, as it is
more versatile and produces clearer
sounds
HOW IT WORKS
•
The hearing aid works by the
microphone receiving the sound
and converting the sound into
electric impulses using the battery
•
The hearing aid than sends the
impulses to the amplifier which
amplifies the impulses to the
desired level and send them to the
receiver.
•
The receiver than converts the
Impulses into amplified sound
Waves which vibrate and stimulate
the hair follicles in the inner ear to
allow hearing
LIMITATIONS
• Hearing aids only amplify sounds making them useless to
the deaf and nearly deaf
• Can have problems concentrating on single sounds
allowing background noises to interfere
• They are visible and can cause irritation to the areas that
are in contact with the device
• Loud noises can become very loud when amplified
• Many frequent hearing issues
• Problems and difficulties with adjustment
FUTURE OF THE
HEARING AID
• Complete wireless compatibility
• Better sound quality
• More efficient digital hearing aids
• Better sound distinction (between background noise and
the noise trying to be heard)
• Ability to listen and to be compatible with cell phones and
listening to music through the hearing aids
• Smaller and lighter versions
BIBLIOGRAPHY
•
Valente, Michael. Hearing Aids: Standards, Options, and Limitations. New
York: Thieme, 2002. Web. 7 Oct 2012.
•
Edwards, Brent. "The Future of Digital Hearing Aids." Trends in
Amplification’s
Special Issue on Digital Hearing Aids: 2-6. Web.
7 Oct. 2012.
<http://brent.edwards.name/Papers/Future_of_Digital_Hearing_Aids.pdf>
."
•
Dillon, Harvey. Hearing Aids. New York: Thieme, 2001. Web. 7 Oct. 2012.
•
"Hearing Aid." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 07
Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_aid>.
•
"Ear Wax Museum, a History of the Hearing Industry, Hearing Aids,
Assistive Listening Devices, Etc." Ear Wax Museum, a History of the
Hearing Industry, Hearing Aids, Assistive Listening Devices, Etc. Starkey
Labs,
n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2012.
•
<http://www.hearingcenteronline.com/museum.shtml>.
•
Colin Blakemore and Shelia Jennett. “hearing aid.” The Oxford
Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 7 Oct. 2012
<http://www.encyclopedia.com>.