Lecture 1: Introduction to Hearing Aids

Question 1

What are the signs of hearing loss? (4)

Answer 1

1) Distant in conversation
2) Asking for repetition
3) Turn up TV at home
4) Can’t hearing door bells, birds chirping, etc.

Question 2

Why will people not choose to wear hearing aids?

Answer 2

1) Vanity
2) Cost
3) No perception of benefit
4) Not encouraged by other medical professionals

Question 3

What are the consequences of untreated hearing loss?

Answer 3

Psychological Consequences

1) Embarrassment
2) Shame
3) Sadness
4) Worry/Frustration

Social Consequences

1) Isolation
2) Inattentiveness
3) Distraction

Physical Consequences

1) Fatigue
2) Headaches due to strain of listening
3) Stress
4) Auditory deprivation

Question 4

What does hearing loss do?

Answer 4

1) Loss of audibility
2) Reduced dynamic range
3) Change in frequency resolution
4) Decreased temporal resolution

Question 5

What are the benefits of purchasing HAs? (from a consumer perspective)

Answer 5

1) Ease of communication
2) Listening in background noise should not be worse than listening without hearing aids
3) Greater environmental awareness
4) Better relationships at home (recorded by family members)
5) Improved self-confidence

Question 6

What are the types of hearing aids?

Answer 6

1) Behind-the-ear (BTE)
2) Standard Open-Fit BTE (occlusion factor)
3) Receiver-in-the-ear (RIC)
4) Custom Remote Mic Half Shell (HS- RM)
5) Custom in-the-ear (ITE)
6) Custom Half Shell (HS)
7) Custom-in-the-Canal (ITC)
8) Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
9) Lyric

Question 7

Define dynamic range

Answer 7

The range between the absolute threshold and the maximum loudness threshold.

Average dynamic range is 90 dB.

Question 8

How do hearing aids work?

Answer 8

Microphone (Acoustic Sound)
- Picks up the sound and sends it to the amplifier

Amplifier (Mechanical sound)
- Filters the sound; compression

Receiver (Electrical sound)
- Where the filtered sound is sent

Question 9

How do hearing aids perform in background noise?

Answer 9

• Directional microphones

- FM systems

Question 10

What is the difference between an Au.D. and an HAD?

Answer 10

Audiologist (AuD)
- Doctorate degree and over a thousand hours of clinical experience

Hearing Aid Dispenser
- Associates degree and an apprenticeship that lasts 6-12 months

Question 11

What are the three Es?

Answer 11

1) Efficacy     
     Does it work?
2) Effectiveness     
     Can it work in the real world?
3) Efficiency     
     Can it work for my patient?

Question 12

Briefly describe the history of hearing aids

Answer 12

1) Acoustic Era
- Ear horns, ear trumpets

2) Electronic Era (Analog)

Carbon Hearing Aids

• Carbon microphone, magnetic receiver, large battery
• Not enough amplification for a greater than moderate hearing loss

Vacuum Tube (1930-1940)

• Could put it on a severe hearing loss
• Large, required two batteries, and expensive
• Reduced distortion compared to carbon hearing aids

3) Transistor Hearing Aid 1948 at Belle Labs
- By 1953, completely replaced the vacuum tube

4) Digital Era
1987- Nicolet Phoenix (1st digital HA)
1996- Widex and Oticon came out with the 1st ear level digital HA