Final Flashcards
How to qualify for HAs
- “significant” HL (mostly mild HL or worse; CHL or SNHL)
- medical clearance for CHILDREN not adults
- data needed: PTA/B, speech reception threshold (softest level they can repeat words), speech recognition in quite & noise
Dynamic range
- usable range; difference b/t dB(PTA) & threshold
- larger range in people w/out HL
Recommended time frame for children getting HAs
screening by 1 month, HL identified by 3 months, intervention by 6 months
stages of change
process where people vary their readiness to change (get HAs)
1. pre-contemplation (denial)
2. contemplation
3. preparation
4. action (Auds work here)
5. maintenance
How do HAs work?
- mic (acoustic signal) is transduced into electrical signal
- amplifier increases strength/loudness of signal
- receiver/speaker (electrical signal) is transduced back to acoustic signal
HA Microphone
- transducer
- converts acoustic to electrical signal
- sound waves move diaphragm & coil back & forth
- coil is wrapped at magnet (creating a current)
- electrical signal is sent to amp
HA Amplifier
- electronic device that increases amplitude of voltage (current of signal)
- generates a larger current electrical signal sent to receiver/speaker
HA Receiver/Speaker
- converts electrical signal (from amp) to acoustic signal
- considered a small loudspeaker
HA Batteries
- +/- proper insertion
- 3-22 day battery life
- 13, 312, & 10A are most common
Most common HA
BTE - mild to severe
Common BTEs
Open fit - clear tubing
RITE & RIC - wire in tubing
- mild to moderate (mostly SNHL)
Which type of HA has a longer adjustment period
Digital (DSP)
Where does the mic & receiver go for HAs (CROS)
mic - bad ear
receiver - good ear
Standard BTE
- mild to severe
- good dexterity
- larger controls
- 2 components: unit + HA
- less feedback
ITE/ITC
- mild to moderate
- okay dexterity
- 1 unit
- enhanced amp of high frequencies
- wax can block speaker
CIC
- mild to moderate
- cosmetically appealing
- reduction of occlusion effect (booming sound) & feedback
- less gain needed
- elimination of wind sound
Circuitry
- guts of HA
- Analog vs. Digital
- depends on severity of HL
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
- compression features allow soft sounds to be amplified more than loud sounds
- noise reduction circuits work better than analog
- self adjusting
Analog Signal Processing (ASP)
- make sound waves louder
- amplifies all sound (speech & noise)
- most are still programmable
- less expensive
Binaural vs Monaural
- 60% of people with HL are fit with 2 HAs
- localization improved (eliminates head shadow effect)
- loudness summation adds signal received to both (3dB benefit in both ears)
- ears working together to suppress background noise
- BUT binaural interference (info from 2 different inputs)
Who can’t use AC HAs?
- people with congenital atresia, microtia, some otosclerosis, or single-sided deafness
- people with BAHAs
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
- info sent via BC across skull to opposite ear canal to Aud. N.
- goes opposite way through skull to stimulate cochlea
- BAHA goes on bad ear (skull side)
- titanium implants
- skin penetrating abutment
- sound processor
adjustable components of HAs
- earmolds
- microphone
- electroacoustic parameters
- real ear measurement
Earmolds
- anchor HA to ear
- deliver sound from receiver to ear canal
- sized to accommodate HL degree
- usually bigger HL=bigger earmold