Hearing aids

Question 1

When did hearing aids first get invented?

Answer 1

1912 by Siemens. Early aids were hand-carried.

Question 2

What is MPO?

Answer 2

MPO (maximum power output) is the maximum output level a hearing aid will put out in response to a very loud input signal.p

Question 3

What are the different sizes and shapes of hearing aids?

Answer 3

.

Question 4

What are the difference considerations in selecting a hearing device?

Answer 4

• degree of hearing loss
• lifestyle
• shapes
• size
• use
• willingness
• realization of need
• budget
• style preference
• fine and gross motor skills
• physical status of outer/middle ear

Question 5

What does it mean when a hearing aid is whistling?

Answer 5

Sound is escaping the receiver

Question 6

What are the components of a hearing aid?

Answer 6

• Acoustic signal comes in
• goes through the microphone
• that electric signal goes to the amplifier
• then the sound goes to an electric signal which goes to the receiver
• the acoustic signal then goes into the ear to be heard

Question 7

What does the microphone do?

Answer 7

Converts the audio signal into an electrical signal

Question 8

What is a directional microphone?

Answer 8

designed to respond primarily to sound originating from in front of the user, not the back

Question 9

What is a omnidirectional microphone?

Answer 9

responds to sound originating from all directions

Question 10

What is an automatic directional microphone?

Answer 10

they alter their directional response part terns so as to optimize the signal to noise ratio in continuously chaining environments.

Question 11

What is saturation level?

Answer 11

the point at which an amplifier no longer provides an increase in output compared to input

Question 12

There are five styles of hearing aids, what are they?

Answer 12

Body aids

behind the ear (BTE) aids

In the ear (ITE)

• full shell
• half shell
• canal
• completely in the canal
• extended wear device

In the canal (ITC)

completely in the canal (CIC)

Question 13

What does OSPL stand for?

Answer 13

Output sound pressure level

Question 14

What is OSPL?

Answer 14

• Maximum sound pressure level to the ear
• 90dB SPL input signal
• Volume full-on
• OSPL should no reach user’s loudness discomfit level (LDL)

Question 15

What are some other hearing assistive styles?

Answer 15

• CROS hearing devices
  
  • contra lateral routing of signal
    
    • transmits sound to contra-lateral ear
  • BiCROS
    
    • Hearing device and receiver
• Bone conduction device
  0 Bypasses outer and middle ear
  
  • Delivers sound via vibration through mastoid
  • Used if HA receiver can not be placed in ear canal

Question 16

How much are HAs?

Answer 16

• Good modern Hearing Devices $995-$3500 each
• Accessories are additional costs
• Medicare does not assist in payment for hearing aids
• Most health insurance policies do not have benefits for hearing devices
• Those that do offer a benefit amount like (ie $1000/ear every three years) But usually don’t pay for both devices.