History of Hearing Aids Essay - 578 Words

The story of the hearing aid depicts one of the most ridiculous timelines of technological advancements in all of history. Although we modernly think of a â€Å"hearing aid† as a small device which is inserted into the ear canal, the reality is that a hearing aid is â€Å"an apparatus that amplifies sound and compensates for impaired hearing.† Thus, I invite you to expand your mind, and draw your attention to the intriguing, and absolutely absurd, timeline of the hearing aid. The most common model of the ancestral hearing aid is that of the simple ear trumpet. This was a small, pipe-looking device which was carved from either bull’s horn or seashell, and was held up to the ear in order to amplify sound. The audible result of such would†¦show more content†¦The royal member would then angle the end of the tube towards their ear, so that they could better hear the words being spoken without having to be yelled at. Next we have the classic ear tube which was developed in 1887. Much like the childhood game of â€Å"telephone† in which the two styrofoam cups were connected with a piece of string, the ear tube was simply a long hose with a widened opening at either side. One end was placed to the lips of the speaker, while the other end was placed close to the ear of the hearing-deficient listener. Effective, yet not exactly attractive to look at†¦ Finally, in 1901, the first electric hearing aids were designed. Consisting of a carbon microphone, a processing unit, a battery box, and a headpiece, this hearing aid served merely as a personalized microphone/amplifier. It was bulky, heavy, and expensive to buy (at about $400.00 each), but it worked! Thus, its successors followed the same model, but the goal became a matter of size. It wasn’t until 1953 that a person could wear a hearing aid that would go largely unnoticed. The Oticon pocket model was an aid that looked very much like an iPod – its components being a small, pocket-sized battery and processor, and an earpiece which look about the same as what we would now call an â€Å"earbud†. This was an incredible advancement, but the design was not quite finished. With transistors becoming smallerShow MoreRelatedTypes Of Technologies Used By The Deaf Community891 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Deaf Community. From alerting technology, to cochlear implants, to the use of closed captions. With all of these technologies available, hearing aids are the most available and accessible to individuals in the Deaf Community. Current hearing aids have evolved since they were first patented by Miller Reese Hutchinson in 1895. The first electrical hearing aid, also known as the Akouphone, was operated by a carbon transmitter. The carbon transmitters function was to amplify sound by taking a weakRead MoreHearing Aids : American Sign Language II1276 Words   |  6 PagesSweigart 15 May 2015 Hearing Aids In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone which was the first electrical device that could transmit speech. While the telephone was one of the best inventions in history, it was completely pointless to the deaf because they couldn t hear. The deaf now have hearing aids and cochlear implants that help them hear, although; a hearing aid will only be effective for about one in five people with hearing loss. The first mention of hearing aids was in 1588 in GiovanniRead MoreBlindness Or Low Vision, Cancer, And Alzheimer s Disease943 Words   |  4 Pagesdecreased dark/light adaption, and delayed glare recovery. These changes tend to aggravate other causes of low vision. Glaucoma causes increased ocular pressure that can damage the ganglion cell layer of the retina and cause vision loss. A family history of glaucoma increases a patient’s risk fourfold. One person in 10 will develop open-angle glaucoma, and one half of these persons will be unware that they have it. Persons older than 40 years are increased risk, and the AAO recommends a baseline eyeRead MoreThe National Institute Of Deafness And Other Communication Disorder784 Words   |  4 PagesThe National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorder calculates that about 2 percent of older adults have disabling hearing loss. The NIDC uses the decible of hearing loss at 35 decibels or more in the better ear which is the level at which adults could generally benefit from hearing aids. The medical term for old age related hearing loss with no other causes is Presbycusis. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) the term elderly or aged refers to persons aged 60 yearsRe ad MoreHearing Speech On Hearing Loss1615 Words   |  7 PagesHearing Aids What is the true definition of sound? Sound is vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person or animals ear (SOURCE IS MERRIAM WEBSTER). A lot of people have trouble hearing certain things in the world today. Hearing loss can have negative effect on communication with others, your schooling, and relationships with others as well. Hearing aids that are used in both ears are usually for hearing impaired people but some people only needRead MoreVictim from Birth Deaf Essay833 Words   |  4 Pagesalso deaf. The donor they selected was based on his family history of deafness to insure their son Gauvin would also be deaf. Duchesneau goes on to say that Gauvin â€Å"is not profoundly deaf†¦ but deaf enough† (McElroy 1). Gauvin was born with slight ability hear to. Gauvin would be able to hear well enough to perform normal functions with help from a hearing aid. However, Duchesneau and McCullough made the decision not to su pply a hearing aide for their son. McElroy states â€Å"A deaf lifestyle is a choiceRead MoreHow the Deaf Communicate in a Hearing World Essay1671 Words   |  7 Pagesa lively area filled with lots of laughter, roaring music, and a handful of birds chirping away. That imagery paints a scene of the plain difference between a hearing world and a deaf one. One world is capable of hearing and the other involves no incoming source of sound whatsoever. Understanding how deaf culture and how the hard of hearing work and live is important in order to comprehend the reasons behind why they do the certain things they do such as stare at others for a long period of time orRead MoreAre Cochlear Implants Necessary?1294 Words   |  6 Pagesand corporation that are usually visually dominant, however without hearing it is viewed as a major disadvantage to the hearing world. Kent State University compiled an accurate definition of the deaf community â€Å" those [of] deaf and hard of hearing i ndividuals who share a common language, common experience and values, and a common way of interacting with each other, and with hearing people.† The deaf community is viewed by the hearing world as an official handicap since they deviate from what is consideredRead MoreCase Analysis : Alfred Griffin1432 Words   |  6 PagesSummary: Alfred Griffin is a 69-year-old male who was referred to MRS by Sterling Hearing Center. A comprehensive orientation was provided in the office on 8/3/17, to Alfred and his wife Robin. During the meeting this counselor reviewed agency services; the employment purpose of MRS programming; that an employment outcome shall be in an integrated setting; eligibility criteria; services available through MRS and the statewide workforce investment system; the individualized nature of the program;Read MoreEssay on Communication for the Deaf: Oralism and Manaulism1693 Words   |  7 Pagesand hard of hearing people must do to learn how to speak. The techni que of teaching deaf people how to speak and read lips is referred to as oralism. It is a hard and laborious method and in the past often had extreme measures, that were border line abusive, put in place to try and ensure success. Manaulism is when a deaf person uses sign language as their primary from of communication. Learning to communicate using sign language is much more easier on a deaf or hard of hearing person. Although