Journal of Phonetics & Audiology
Open Access

Types, Uses and Applications of Hearing Aid

Joseph George^{* *}Correspondence: Joseph George, Department of Speech Language and Audiology, Andrews University, Michigan, USA, Email:

Author info »

Description

A hearing aid is a tool used to help hearing loss victims hear properly by amplifying sound. In the majority of nations, hearing aids are categorised as medical equipment and are subject to the corresponding legislation. It is illegal to market small audio amplifiers as "hearing aids," such as PSAPs or other simple sound reinforcement systems. Early sound amplification devices, such ear trumpets and ear horns, were passive cones that gathered sound energy and directed it into the ear canal. According to audio metrical and cognitive criteria, modern technologies are computerised electroacoustic systems that modify surrounding sound to make it audible.

Modern systems also make use of advanced digital signal processing to attempt to enhance user comfort and voice understanding. These signal processing techniques include frequency lowering, directionality, feedback control, broad dynamic range compression, and noise reduction.

Modern hearing aids must be customized to the wearer's hearing loss, physical characteristics, and lifestyle. The most current audiogram is used to suit the hearing aid, which is then frequency-programmed. Fitting is a procedure carried out by an Audiologist (AuD), a doctor of audiology, or a Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS). The effectiveness of a hearing aid's fitting has a significant impact on the amount of benefit it delivers.

Uses

The Osseo integrated auditory prosthesis (formerly known as the bone-anchored hearing aid) and cochlear implant are devices that are comparable to hearing aids. For a number of diseases, including sensor neural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and single-sided deafness, hearing aids are prescribed. A Doctor of Audiology or other trained hearing expert generally makes this determination and also fits the hearing aid according to the kind and severity of the hearing loss being repaired.

The kind, degree, and aetiology of the hearing loss, the technology and fitting of the device, the user's motivation, personality, way of life, and general health all play a role in hearing aid. For a number of diseases, including sensor neural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and single-sided deafness, hearing aids are prescribed. A Doctor of Audiology or other trained hearing expert generally makes this determination and also fits the hearing aid according to the kind and severity of the hearing loss being repaired.

The kind, degree, and aetiology of the hearing loss, the technology and fitting of the device, the user's motivation, personality, way of life, and general health all play a role in hearing aid. Hearing aids work best for treating conductive hearing impairments that do not entail cochlea damage because they can amplify sound to a level that compensates for the conductive component's attenuation. The cochlea and auditory nerve can usually convey messages to the brain once the sound is able to reach it at normal or near-normal levels. The occlusion effect, loudness recruitment, and comprehension of speech amid noise are common problems with hearing aid fitting and use. Feedback, formerly a widespread issue, is now often wellcontrolled because to the introduction of feedback management algorithms.

Types

Hearing instruments (often referred to as hearing aids) come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and circuitry configurations.

Vacuum tube hearing aids, Transistor body-worn hearing aids, Transistor body-worn hearing aids, Receiver-in-the-Canal hearing aids, In-the-Ear hearing aids, In-the-Canal hearing aids, and Completely in the Canal hearing aides are just a few of the various sizes and styles.

Applications

When deployed on mobile computational platforms, Hearing Aid Apps (HAA) is pieces of software that turn the devices into hearing aids. The fundamental workings of a HAA are the same as those of conventional hearing aids: a microphone picks up an acoustic signal and transforms it to a digital form. Depending on the kind and severity of the user's hearing loss, sound is amplified using a mobile computing platform. The user's headphones or headset receive the processed audio signal after being converted into an audio signal. Because they enable for the separation of the left and right ears' binaural hearing correction, stereo headsets with two speakers are preferred for utilization with mobile computing platforms. Both wired and wireless headsets and headphones can be used with HAAs.