Hearing Aids Essay

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Hearing Aids Hearing aids are a key element to the daily lives of deaf people. A hearing aid is an electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. Earlier devices, known as an "ear trumpet" or "ear horn", were passive funnel-like amplification cones designed to gather sound energy and direct it into the ear canal. There are many types of hearing aids, ranging in many types of different sizes and styles. The first type is called a Body Worn Aids and was invented by Harvey Fletcher while working at Bell Laboratories. Thanks to developments in technology they are now rarely used. These aids consist of a case, an ear mold, and a cord. The case contains the amplifier components. The case is about the size of a pack of playing cards and is worn in the pocket or on a belt. The ear mold is connected to the case via a cord. Because of use of vacuum tubes, body worn aids can provide loud amplification. This made them the first appropriate hearing aid for profound hearing losses. Today, body aids have largely been replaced by Behind the Ear, which is the second type of hearing aid. Behind the Ear aids consist of a case, a tube and an ear mold. The case is small and made of plastic. Generally, the case sits behind the ear with the tube coming down the front into the ear mold. The case contains the amplification system. The sound is routed from the hearing aid case to the ear mold via the tube. The sound can be routed acoustically or electrically. If the sound is routed electrically, the speaker (receiver) is located in the ear mold, rather than in the case. The ear mold is created from an impression taken of the individual's outer ear. This usually ensures a comfortable fit and reduces the possibility of feedback. Ear molds are made from a variety of hard (firm) and soft (pliable)

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