Hearing aids Flashcards
What is a hearing aid
a sound amplifier
what are the three types of hearing aids you can get?
BTE- behind the ear, ITE- in the ear and ITC- in the canal
are hearing aids digital or analog?
digital nowadays
what is the difference between an ‘open’ hearing aid and a normal one?
an open one does not have the moulded bit into ear so that some background sound can be heard
why would a patient get a hearing aid?
if there was any sign of auditory deficit and hearing loss
If someone presents with struggles to hear over background noise, but their hearing is fine, should you give a hearing aid?
No- look for other hearing therapies that may be more useful
what does air conduction test
the overall working system of the outer, middle and inner ear
What does bone conduction test?
just the inner ear directly
Which ear, R or L, does O equate to on a PTA
right air conduction
what ear does X correspond to?
Left
why do you need to mask noise??
in the non test ear, noises get played to keep it busy so that it can’t hear the noises that are testing the test ear
what are some problems with hearing aids
too loud, doesn’t fit properly, allergy to the mould, otitis externa secondary to occlusion of ear canal, painful
when might patients need bone anchored hearing aids?
recurrent discharge, absence or stenosis of ear canal
how do cochlear implants work?
electrical stimulation of neural structures in the cochlea. The stimulation is then transmitted to the brain where it is perceived as sound
when would a cochlear implant be of use
in sensorineural severe hearing loss
