90 likes | 246 Vues
Join us for an engaging talk by Isabelle Peretz on Nov. 22 at 12 noon in Lunch Rm. 2068B, South Building. Discover how hearing aids have evolved from primitive ear trumpets to sophisticated digital devices. Learn about tinnitus retraining therapy and techniques to reduce sound aversiveness. Explore the basics of hearing aids, including types like BTE, ITE, and CIC. Delve into the history of hearing aid technology from early mechanical devices to modern solutions, examining their effectiveness and challenges in amplifying sound.
E N D
Hearing Aids (HA) Or technology to the rescue Upcoming Talk: Isabelle Peretz Musical & Non-musical Brains Nov. 22 @ 12 noon + Lunch Rm 2068B South Building
Finishing up with Tinnitus • One last method of treatment • Tinnitus retraining therapy • Habituation to tinnitus sound to reduce aversiveness
HA Basics • BTE • Behind the ear • ITE • In the ear • ITC • In the canal • CIC • Completely in canal
HA History • Ear trumpets • Prehistoric • Hollowed ram horns • Speaking tubes (17th century) • Direct sound from mouth • Aurical Aids • In-ear, around ear • Limited frequency range • Effective at less than 1000 Hz • Artificial ear drums (19th century) • Perforated ear drum • Try to insert rubber, cotton or dermal layer • Wire attachment to ossicles • Ineffective
Early Electronic HAs • Carbon-based (early 20th century) • Carbon microphone • Sound Diaphram: moves carbon globules • Motion of carbon in electric field creates current • Gain 30 dB SPL • Problems • Static, no additional amplification • Bulky, large battery • Benefits • Greater frequency range (500 – 2000 Hz) • Vacuum Tube (circa 1920) • Multiple vacuum tubes response to current in microphone • Problems • Expensive, Multiple batteries, bulky • Benefits • Powerful (up to 140 dB SPL gain)
Analogue Technology (75% sold) • HA: no more vacuum tubes by 1953 • Transistors introduced 1952 • Transistors: Cheaper to produce, much less energy required, equal power • Head-mounting • Eye-glass, Barrettes • Allowed for integrated circuits • Multiple transistors & resistors in same area • Benefits • Cheaper, less bulky, improved frequency range • Problems • No signal processing • All linear changes in amplification
HAs Design • Microphone Amplifier High/Low pass filters Attenuators Adder Variable gain amplifier speaker (output)
Digital HAs (25%) • Convert analogue signal to digital • Advantages • Much greater capacity for signal processing • Preprogrammed environments • Less energy consumption • Lighter • Cheaper to produce • Problems • Programmability?
HA Effectiveness • HOH Population 40% neutral or dissatisfied with HA (Cochran, 2002) • No difference between Digital & Analogue • Problems • Battery 100 hrs (1 week to 10 days) • Will run out, must be replaced/recharged • Limited benefit in noise • Best if 1 meter or less