Lecture 2.1 Flashcards
What are the components of all hearing aids?
microphone - picks up the sound
amplifier - increases the gain
battery - power source
signal processor - computer within the aid
receiver - sends amplified sound to the ear
What is the best way to treat most hearing loss?
amplification
How do hearing aids work?
sound picked up by microphones
sent to amplifier and then signal processor
amplified signal transferred to receiver to be delivered to ear
What are some factors that contribute to candidacy for hearing aids?
age
type and degree of hearing loss
monoaural vs. binaural
needs and lifestyle
technology level
dexterity
physical and or psychological factors
What is binaural squelch/squelch effect?
aka cocktail party effect
a signal in the presence of noise is more easily detected when the signal and noise are presented to both ears rather than one ear alone
- benefit of adding the ear with the poorer signal to noise ratio
binaural listener can attend to a conversation in the presence of background noise
What is the head shadow effect?
attenuation of sound that occurs as it passes through the head
when hearing on side of poor ear it reduces the loudness of sound as it passes through the head to reach the better ear
What is the localization effect?
the ability to know the direction of the sound and to orientate in an environment
What is the summation effect?
a boost in perceived loudness when both ears hear a signal
Are 2 hearing aids always better than one?
yes unless only single sided deficits
Who uses BTE hearing aids?
all ages, mild to profound degree of hearing loss
What are the types of BTE hearing aids?
open fit
receiver in the canal
What are open fit hearing aids?
thin tube is attached to the device and a dome is used along with it, allows ear canal to remain open
suitable for individuals with excessive wax build up
What are receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids?
has an external receiver which goes into the ear canal
for mild-severe hearing loss
no “plugged up” feeling
minimizes amplification of own voice by allowing sounds to escape through ear canal
What are the types of custom hearing aids?
in the ear (ITE)
in the canal (ITC)
completely in the canal (CIC)
all made using ear mold impression of the patient’s ear
What is an in-the-ear hearing aid?
molded and fits the outer ear
suitable for mild-severe hearing loss
not recommended for children because the casing would need to be replaced often as the child’s ear keeps growing
What is an in-the-canal hearing aid?
molded and fits partly in the ear canal
for mild to moderately severe hearing loss
not suitable for children, individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, or individuals with poor dexterity (harder to insert and remove device)
What is a completely in the ear hearing aid?
molded to fit full inside the ear canal
smallest type, nearly invisible
not recommended for children or individuals with severe-profound hearing loss
What is the hearing aid fitting process?
assessment of hearing loss
selection of hearing aid
verification of hearing aid
outcome validation
Why is hearing aid fitting important?
hearing aids fit comfortably
output of hearing aid meets specific hearing needs and lifestyle needs
speech is audible and comfortable across a broad range of frequencies
What occurs during a hearing assessment?
case history
- medical, hearing, family, noise exposure, etc.
otoscopy
audiologic assessment
- acoustic immittance procedures (ex. tympanometry)
- OAEs
- pure-tone audiometry (air and bone conduction)
- ABR