Hearing Aids Explained
When a person is faced with cochlear damage, and the resulting sensorineural hearing loss, a hearing aid prescribed by an Audiologist is often their best bet at reclaiming their auditory function. If prescribed, the hearing aid will function by boosting audible sound. The aids today are typically small acrylic devices that fit inside the ear and imbedded with tiny components and a battery. The most important of these, for the function of the aid, are the microphone, computer chip, amplifier, and mini-speaker.
The microphone is a type of transducer, which converts energy from one form to another. In this component, the energy is converted from sound waves into electrical energy. This is accomplished with a thin piece of material, called a diaphragm, which vibrates once struck by sound waves.
After the electrical energy is produced in the microphone, it is sent to the computer chip for processing. Hearing aids, sold in the United States and Europe, are predominantly digital devices containing tiny computer chips. This chip serves as the brain of the hearing aid, and determines corrective measures based on the hearing loss prescription. It will then send a signal to the amplifier to boost certain pitches and increase overall volume.
After receiving the directions, the amplifier goes to work elevating the energy level of the signal. This boost is mandatory for two reasons. Primarily, the person suffering from the hearing loss needs heightened auditory wave energy in order to hear properly. In addition, the cone of the speaker, which outputs the wave energy, requires more power to operate than the simple diaphragm located in the microphone. In completing its task, the amplifier relies on its battery powered transistor to increase the power and effectiveness of the processed electrical energy.
The last step the hearing aid completes is the conversion of electrical energy to audible sound waves. This task is performed by a speaker, which is a transducer much like a microphone. The obvious difference is they work in reverse order, meaning the speaker converts electrical energy into sound waves. This is done by moving an electromagnet to and from a fixed magnet, based on the pulses in energy. Once moved, a vibration is produced, resulting in increased audible sound waves.
In conclusion, hearing aids serve an important function in raising the standard of living for those suffering from hearing impairments. To do this, hearing aids transfer sound waves into energy, evaluate and heighten the signal, and then convert the energy back to sound waves. The end result features components working in tandem to produce amplified sound waves for the benefit of the user.
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Tags: elderly care, Family, Hearing, seniors