The Various Types Of Hearing Aids
by Brenda Murphy
Another name for a hearing aid is a deaf aid. This is a gadget designed for use by deaf people to improve the ability to hear. In most countries, these devices are categorized as mechanical devices subject to regulation. A lot of evolution has occurred in <a href="http://www.hearcareaudiology.com">hearing aids</a> from being simple sound amplification devices that directed external sounds to ear canals to being computerized electroacoustic systems.
Modern devices which are computerized electroacoustic systems transform environmental sound so that it can be more intelligible and/or comfortable. Sound processing capabilities of modern devices allow them to highlight spatial region, shift frequencies, cancel noise and wind, and highlight voice. They need to be configured so that they match with the extent of hearing loss, lifestyle, and physical features around the wearer.
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.
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.
Three main dimensions are available for representing the outcome of the device. These dimensions are hearing aid usage, satisfaction, and aided speech recognition. The correctness of the adjustments done to the device can be measured through a method called real ear measurement, which is also called probe microphone measurements. This method uses a silicone probe tube microphone to assess the characteristics of amplification by the device near the eardrum.
Different types of these instruments have been invented. The devices vary in their size, circuitry, and power among other factors. Major modern types today include body worn aid, receiver in the canal aid, BTE cross system, behind the ear aid, and on-the-ear aid. Other types are BTE Bi cross system, extended wear deaf aid, earmolds, open-fit gadgets, disosable deaf aid, invisible in canal deaf aid, stethoscope deaf aids, and bone anchored devices.
All modern devices use button cell zinc-air batteries. These batteries come in five main standards. Older version of the devices used mercury batteries while some still use long-life disposable or rechargeable batteries.
When you need <a href="http://www.hearcareaudiology.com">hearing aids</a>, there is no better place than our audiology center. Come and review all the relevant info online at http://www.hearcareaudiology.com.
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New Unique Article!
Title: The Various Types Of Hearing Aids
Author: Brenda Murphy
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: hearing aids
Word Count: 532
Category: Medicine
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