Assistive Technology: Hearing Products
Original Editors - Lucinda hampton
Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson and Angeliki Chorti
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their ‘disabling’ hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people – or one in every ten people – will have disabling hearing loss. ‘Disabling’ hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels (dB) in the better hearing ear. Nearly 80% of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, among those older than 60 years, over 25% are affected by disabling hearing loss.[1]
Definition[edit | edit source]
Hearing aids, by definition, are sound-amplifying devices that increase the user's ability to detect noise. The components of a non-invasive hearing aid vary widely but broadly consist of a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and battery. The microphone converts external acoustic energy into electrical energy, which is amplified by the amplifier. The receiver detects this and converts it back into acoustic energy, projecting sound into the ear canal. The amplification is driven by the battery, which can be made from zinc-air batteries, mercury, alkaline or rechargeable batteries. A non-invasive hearing aid aims to increase the sound levels delivered to and hence detected by the hair cells in the cochlea.
Function[edit | edit source]
Hearing aids may be indicated in various pathologies that cause sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, or single-sided hearing loss.
Selection[edit | edit source]
There are various hearing aids, and their selection is not a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. Selection is influenced by factors that include audiometric deficit (laterality, frequency, and degree of loss), cosmesis, and the patient’s needs, lifestyle, and priorities.
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References [edit | edit source]
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- ↑ WHO Hearing Loss Available:https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss ( accessed 3.7.2021)