Monday, 12 September 2016

Types And Models Of Hearing Aids

By Brenda Murphy


Hearing aid also goes by the name deaf aid. It refers to a device that is designed to enhance hearing is people with hearing loss. These devices fall under mechanical devices in many countries and they are subject to regulation by the state. Hearing aids have evolved over time from devices like ear trumpets which gathered external sound energy f and directed it at the ear canal to computerized electroacoustic systems.

Sound is made more comfortable and intelligible by modern gadgets since they are computerized electroacoustic systems. The sound processing ability in them enable them to cancel wind and noise, highlight voice and partial region, and to shift frequencies. For the device to match the lifestyle, physical feature, and the degree of hearing loss in a person, it must be configured.

The process of configuring a deaf aid to match the various aspects is referred to as fitting and the specialist who performs it is called an audiologist. The beneficial the device can be is often determined in large part by the quality of fitting done to it. It is worth knowing that a deaf aid does not truly correct deafness. Rather, it helps to make sound more accessible.

Two main factors minimize how effective these devices can be. The first factor relates to the loss of brain cells that process sound. This happens when stimulation is not provided to primary auditory cortex regularly. The loss in these cells occurs progressively as the level of deafness increases in a person. The second factor relates to the damage of hair cells within inner ears because of sensorineural hearing loss. With the loss of these hair cells, it becomes hard to discriminate sounds.

The effectiveness of a device in compensating for lost ability to hear can be evaluated using various methods. Audiometry is of the methods used for the evaluation. Audiometry is performed in a lab environment to measure hearing levels in a subject. Audiometric tests resemble real-world conditions as much as possible. However, subjects still have different daily experiences with the gadgets.

The representation of the outcome of a device can be done using three key dimensions. The dimensions are hearing aid usage, aided speech recognition, and satisfaction. A technique called real ear measurement can be used to gauge the correctness of adjustments made to the device. A silicone probe tube microphone is employed in this method to assess characteristics of amplification the device does near the eardrum.

Several different types of deaf aids are in existence. These instruments vary in their circuitry, power, and size. Some of the common models in use are body worn aid, behind the ear aid, on-the-ear aid, receiver in the canal aid, and BTE cross system. Additional types are earmolds, BTE Bi cross system, invisible in canal devices, extended wear deaf aid, open-fit devices, disosable deaf aid, bone anchored devices, and stethoscope deaf aids.

In most cases, modern gadgets run on button cell zinc-air batteries. These batteries come in five key standards. Mercury batteries used to be common in older models. There are also manufacturers who make modern devices that run on rechargeable of long-life disposable batteries.




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