3 MAIN POINTS

• How do you explain hearing loss

• What hearing aids do and their limitations

• Why do we need hearing assistive technology

The Auditory System

Image © 2010 Brad Ingrao, AuD

Outer Ear

MiddleEar

Inner Ear

The BRAIN

1. Hearing Loss Described

• Sensorineural 90%

• Conductive 10%

Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013

2. What Do Hearing Aids Do

Capture sound, amplify, send via speaker

Hearing Aid Limitations

• Distance

• Noise

• Reverberation

8

Pichora-Fuller, ARC 2010

3. Why We Need Hearing Assistive Technology (“HAT”)

• CAPTURE

• CARRY

• COUPLE

FM—Remote Microphones

Bluetooth

• Short range radio signal (10 – 30 meters)

• Devices are securely “Paired” together

• Relevant Protocols– Headset -Basic Telephone Functions

– Hands free

– Stereo Audio

Bluetooth Streamer to Smart Phone

Infrared• Converts audio

signals to invisible light beam

• Typical uses:

– Movie theatres

– TV

• Coupling Options:

– Neck Loop

– Earphones