Monday, September 12, 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.

The level of efficiency of these gadgets in undermined by two key factors. The first factor is related to loss of cells of the brain responsible for sound processing. The loss of these cells is triggered by prolonged absence of stimulation to primary auditory cortex. As the degree of deafness rises in an individual so does the loss in these brain cells. Factor number two is related to the damage of hair cells in inner ear due to sensorineural hearing loss. The patient becomes incapable of discriminating sounds as the hair cells are continuously lost.

Evaluation of how effective a gadget is in compensating for hearing loss is done using various methods. Among the evaluation methods currently in use is audiometry. This evaluation is undertaken under laboratory conditions to measure the level of hearing in a person. The method tries to mimic the conditions in a real world to the highest degree. However, regardless of the mimicry, patient experience is still very different.

The outcome of a gadget can be represented using three major dimensions. These dimensions include aided speech recognition, satisfaction, and hearing aid usage. Real ear measurement is one of the techniques used for measuring the correctness of adjustments a gadget makes in hearing. Silicone probe tube microphones are utilized in this technique to assess amplification characteristics device performs 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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