Hearing Aid Selection

Question 1

What are general limits when someone will benefit significantly from aids, or is too deaf to benefit from aids?

Answer 1

20-40dB - Motivation

40-90dB - Hearing Aids

> 90dB - Cochlear implant or tactile aids

Question 2

Things to consider

Answer 2

Ease of insertion/removal

Ease of user control manipulation

Level of gain

Level of MPO needed

Directivity

Reliability

Telephone compatibility

Ease of cleaning

Avoidance of feedback and occlusion

Battery size

Insensitivity to wind noise

Cost

Cosmetic factors

Volume control

Direct audio input/bluetooth

Multiple programs

Remote control

Question 3

How much gain do you add for a conductive loss?

Answer 3

Theoretically the same amount of gain as the ABG, however in practice people tend to want to have a bit less than that

Question 4

Directional microphones should be chosen unless

Answer 4

client wants a low visibility hearing aid (a CIC)

requires a low- to mid- frequency response considerably flatter than can be provided by a hearing aids with a directional mic

if switchable directional/omni dual microphone technology is available