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Understanding Hearing Aids and Types

The document discusses hearing aids and audiograms. It defines normal hearing thresholds and types of hearing loss. It describes different types of hearing aids and how they amplify sound through filtering and gain. It discusses linear vs nonlinear amplification and output limiting through compression. Programmable hearing devices allow storing different response programs.

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Laura Salido
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76 views4 pages

Understanding Hearing Aids and Types

The document discusses hearing aids and audiograms. It defines normal hearing thresholds and types of hearing loss. It describes different types of hearing aids and how they amplify sound through filtering and gain. It discusses linear vs nonlinear amplification and output limiting through compression. Programmable hearing devices allow storing different response programs.

Uploaded by

Laura Salido
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

HEARING AIDS

DB HL (HEARING LEVEL)
Tenemos dB SPL que es Sound Pressure Level y tenemos dB HL que es el Hearing Level .
0 en dB HL is defined as the average in normal hearing ears.
Podemos convertir db SPL en dB HL usando tablas de conversión, y el factor de conversión es
la frecuencia.

AUDIOGRAMS: PURE-TONE HEARING THRESHOLD


Definition of normal hearing: Air conduction thresholds Normal if<20 dB HL in the range 500-
8000Hz.
Normal bone conduction thresholds match the air conduction thresholds.

ORIGING OF HEARING LOSS


Cochlear or sensorineural hearing loss: >20db HL in 500-8000Hz
-Air and bone conduction thresholds are affected similarly
-HF or LF hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss: >20dB HL in 500-8000Hz
-Bone conduction is unimpaired at all frequencies
-Flat hearing loss

TYPES OF HEARING AIDS


-BTE(behind the ear): mic-amplif-receiver
-ITE(in the ear )
-ITC(in the canal)
-CIC(completely in the canal)
GENERAL SCHEMA OF HEARING DEVICES

HEARING AIDS – AMPLIFICATION


Its function is to boost the level of the electrical signal that is delivered to the hearing aid’s
loudspeaker.
The amplification is divided into two stages.
1. Filtering
2. True amplification(GAIN)
The FILTER is used to control how much amplification occurs at certain frequencies.

HEARING AIDS – FILTERING


The frequency spectrum of the incoming signal is filtered by the device.
The frequency response of the filter re-shapes the incoming spectrum, resulting in a filtered
signal spectrum(B).
GAIN LINAR VS NON-LINAER
LINEAR hearing aid circuits: constant gain
NonLINEAR: hearing circuits: gain is a function of the input level

ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE RESPONSE

LOUDNESS-LINEAR GAIN
A linear hearing aid amplifies both soft and loud sounds with the same gain
Moderate intensity sounds result comfortable, but high intensity sounds can be too loud

LOUDNESS-NON LINEAR GAIN


A non linear gain provides different amplification at different input levels
The non linear loudness growth compensates for the higher slope of the loudness curve in
sensorineural hearing loss ears.

OUTPUT LIMITING-COMPRESSION
PROGRAMABLE HEARING DEVICES
The response parameters of the hearing device can be manipulated with flexibility and relative
ease under computer control.
Advantages:
- Multiple channels with non-linear compression
- Multiple memories to store different programs
- Extremely useful in fitting young children

HEARING AIDS – SOME ISSUES

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