Introduction & History of Amp Flashcards

1
Q

what is the device that we fit

A

Rx HAs

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2
Q

do we fit direct consumer devices?

A

no

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3
Q

what are the FDA approved devices

A

Rx HAs
self fitting OTC
pre set OTC

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4
Q

what are fda not approved devices

A

PSAPS
Hearables (airpods)
consumer audio devices

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5
Q

what is coupling

A

earmold or dome
how we couple device to the ear

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6
Q

guts of the HA

A

signal processing

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7
Q

audiologic rehabilitation in regards to HAs

A

HAs are one option/solution that is under the full umbrella term

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8
Q

what is input

A

The intensity of the acoustic signal entering the device
sounds coming into the ear from the environment

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9
Q

May appear as dB values or as loudness descriptor in programming software

A

input

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10
Q

what is gain

A

amount of amp added to the input signal
what we are adding to the HA

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11
Q

soft input

A

50dB

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12
Q

moderate input

A

65dB

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13
Q

loud input

A

80db

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14
Q

What is the additional amp I am adding to the input in order to increase signal to the PT to make it more audible

A

gain

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15
Q

what is output

A

intensity of signal that is delivered into the ear canal

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16
Q

sounds coming into the ear + (what I add to the ear to the input intensity)

A

output

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17
Q

Ex: if soft is 50dB and we add 17 at around 3300 Hz, output signal?

A

output = 67dB

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18
Q

applying different amounts of gain based on

A

on input level and based on frequency

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19
Q

if the sound in the ear is 60 and we add 10 gain then output arriving to the tm?

A

70

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20
Q

Hearing level (HL) only used in

A

audio testing

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21
Q

why do we use HL for testing? why are audios in hl?

A

Easier to explain to the PT that the closer to 0 their hearing is the better
Took SPL values and made graphic info easier to explain to PT and this is why it s for testing only and nothing else

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22
Q

always a larger number

A

spl

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23
Q

Audiometric data is converted from ____ to____ before amp is fit

A

HL to SPL

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24
Q

what is the conversion from hl to spl based on

A

avg adult ear

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25
Q

are all ears the same? why is this important

A

no
important to recall when fitting devices

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26
Q

why when fitting HA’s can the avg conversion data cause issues

A

because not everyone is the same
Based on men and measuring SPL and creating an avg conversion factor for the avg adult male

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27
Q

what is the acoustic horn principle

A

the intensity of an acoustic signal changes as it travels through a horn
horns amplify sounds when waves are reflected into a narrower area

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28
Q

explain how the horn changes an acoustic signal

A

increase the SPL that reaches the ear
increase sound directionality
cause sound distortion
all frequencies are equally amplified (cannot control low vs highs that are ampd)

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29
Q

Increased horn length =

A

SPL increase energy to the ™

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30
Q

The length of a horn’s opening determines

A

final output intensity and which frequencies are amplified

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31
Q

wider horn opening

A

collects more sound

32
Q

what are the acoustic principles of a horn that results in an increased output of an input signal? how does a horn determine the final output intensity?

A
  1. wider opening collects more sound so there is more energy input in
  2. the longer the horn the more amplification you get because you are channeling the signal into smaller spaces for a longer period of time
33
Q

what are frequency response curves

A

compares intensity of the input signal to either gain or final output of the device

34
Q

how does cupping your hand enhance the signal

A

around 1500 hz has been amplified but it only adds upward of 15dB of additional gain

35
Q

how does a horn support hL

A

they change the output and frequency response and make the output loader to support greater hl

36
Q

what are the acoustic benefits of hand cupping

A

add 5-10dB of gain to input in mid to high frequencies
increased gain from sounds arriving from the front
attenuates signals arriving from behind
consonant sounds are amplified

37
Q

how does hand cupping work

A

soft sounds that do not have a lot of energy are collected by the hand and are going into the narrower space to get louder (10-15 dB)

38
Q

what do directional microphones do

A

amplify sounds in front and attenuates the background noise

39
Q

how does a carbon microphone work

A

it collects the acoustic signal and converts it into an analog (identical) electric signal

40
Q

what does the receiver do

A

converts the analog electrical signal back to an acoustic signal

41
Q

what is the conductor of electricity

A

carbon balls

42
Q

what do electric HA’s do

A

convert the acoustic signal into an analogous electric signal

43
Q

what does analog refer to

A

the same, shape of signal that came out of the microphone is exactly the same as shape of signal that went into the microphone

44
Q

describe the process of electric hearing iads

A

Sound hits diaphragm, microphone converted to analog, receiver converts it back

sound wave comes in as an acoustic signal hitting the diaphragm and compressing it
creates carbon balls to push together
compression & decompression of carbon creates a + and - electrical current that matches the acoustic sine wave
now have an electrical imitation of sound that can be used

45
Q

did the carbon era have amplification yet

A

NO

46
Q

What is the purpose of the receiver

A

to convert the analogous electric signal back to an acoustic signal

47
Q

is there amplification with the receiver

A

NO

48
Q

what was the amplifier

A

vacuum tube

49
Q

what does the vacuum tube do

A

adds gain to increase amplitude of the analogous electrical signal which results in an increased acoustic output

50
Q

do you get binaural hearing if sound is connected in the middle of your body

A

sound only goes in one ear
causes listening effort and causes fatigue
if only getting amp in one ear, not getting a binaural signal

51
Q

describe the process of the vacuum tube

A

heater element, catho (plate) and by process of the grid opening and closing it could be used to increase/expand the amplitude of the signal

52
Q

why did early versions of vacuum tube amp require 2 batteries

A

one to warm the filament
one to amp sound

53
Q

what replaced vacuum tubesin 1950s

A

small transistors & resistors

54
Q

translator

A

increase current flow of electric signal (amplifier)
takes analog electric signal and increases its amplitude

55
Q

Electrical component used to increase current flow of electronic signals (increases amplitude)

A

translator

56
Q

Electrical component used to add or remove resistance to the flow of electrical current (modifies frequency response or output)

A

resistor

57
Q

resistor

A

manipulates signal in some way
maybe we dont want amplitude in all frequencies, maybe we want to add compression to the signal so we use these to change and manipulate the electrical flow of the signal

58
Q

devices combine ___ & ___ into a single component

A

transistors & resistors

59
Q

combined transistors & resistors into a single component is called

A

integrated circuits

60
Q

what are integrated circuits

A

Electronic circuit formed on small piece of semiconducting material, performing same fxn as larger circuit made from discrete components

rather than individual t and r now we have plastic motherboards that have embedded levels of these all attached to one another

61
Q

motherboard

A

integrated circuits w/ ts and rs

62
Q

describe how an analog ha works

A

input signal - acoustic vibration produces a sound wave

microphone - converts acoustic vibration to analog electrical signal

amplifier - amp of analog electrical signal is made larger by this by moving through a series of transistors to amplify the signal

receiver (earphone) - amplified analog electrical signal is sent here to be converted back into an acoustic signal

output signal - OS is amplified and exits the device and arrives to the TM causing audibility

63
Q

is an analog ha a digital HA

A

NO

analog converts sound waves into electrical signals that are then amplified

digital ha convert sound waves into numerical codes that “attach” to information about the sound’s loudness/pitch

64
Q

what do transistors do

A

conduct electrical sine signal

65
Q

how do transistors conduct electrical sine signal

A

amplifies amp of signal in the HA’s
takes the analog electric current and produces bigger flow of electric current at the other (output current)

66
Q

what do resistors do

A

impede electrical sine signal

67
Q

how do resistors impede electrical sine signal

A

used to modify output, frequency or intensity in some way
for example, filter all the low frequ signals and do not let then go through the circuit

68
Q

what is a potentiometer

A

small resistor control used to modify output signals in early analog HAs

69
Q

other terms for potentiometer

A

Aka trimmer pot or pot screw

70
Q

what is a potentiometer

A

small circular knobs that can be adjusted to effect high frequencies and output volume

71
Q

on potentiometer how do you increase output

A

turn P clockwise

72
Q

on potentiometer how do you increase clarity

A

turn H clockwise

73
Q

on potentiometer how do you eliminate/reduce feedback

A

turn h counter clockwise

74
Q

on potentiometer how do you decrease output

A

turn p counterclockwise

75
Q

how we can change output signal for appropriate to the configuration of persons HL

A

help of t and r

76
Q

with vacuum tube we can amplify the signal but

A

we dont have control of how loud the signal got