A Profile Of Deafness And Electroacoustic Devices

Mar 9
16:25

2013

Diana Spencer

Diana Spencer

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Electroacoustic devices are designed to be worn outside or inside a person's ear. These small units have the capacity to modulate and amplify sound. T...

mediaimage

Electroacoustic devices are designed to be worn outside or inside a person's ear. These small units have the capacity to modulate and amplify sound. These types of aids have been undergoing modifications for centuries. The earliest model,A Profile Of Deafness And Electroacoustic Devices Articles known as the ear trumpet, was initially designed in 1624. It was funnel-shaped and collected sound waves, which were then directed into the ear.

Deafness and hard-of-hearing are not uncommon conditions for adults or children. There are several causes. During the process of aging, individuals lose the ability to detect high frequency sounds. This condition is known as presbycusis. Although the onset is in early adulthood, it does not noticeably interfere with abilities to understand conversations until later in life.

About 50 percent of all the cases involving the inability to perceive sound is caused by loud noises. Globally, it affects about 5 percent of the population. People who live or work near airports or busy highways are most susceptible. Other sources of damaging noise levels include loud music, children's toys, power tools, lawn equipment, guns, and hair dryers. According to health studies, more than 12 percent of all children who are between the ages of 6 and 19 have permanent damage due to exposure to excessive noises.

This condition may also be genetic. There are dominant as well as recessive genes which can cause impairment ranging from mild to profound. A dominant gene will persist across many generations because it manifests itself in children, even if inherited from only one parent.

Other known causes include illness, neurological disorders, medications, chemicals, and physical trauma. Premature birth, measles, meningitis, mumps, and fetal alcohol syndrome may permanently impact a person's ability to hear. Strokes and multiple sclerosis are among the other known causes.

Fortunately, those who suffer from this ailment have viable options which can help them lead normal lives. Among the available types of electroacoustic devices are models which are invisible and in-canal, body-worn, behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), and bone-anchored (BAHA).

A health care professional can help determine the most beneficial type of hearing aid for a patient. The Free Style Open Ear Micro BTE model is discreet and personally programmable. The All-Rite Receiver in the Ear (RIC) model is technologically advanced, and can achieve a high gain output while maintaining a small device footprint. The Symphron BTE model is 100 percent digital, and provides clear, clean, crisp sounds. The Symphron Power BTE is suitable for those with severe or profound levels of hearing loss. It utilizes large and very powerful receiver and microphone combinations, which are personally programmable through computers.

Categories: