Archive for the ‘Hearing Aid’ Category
Cell phones display amazing versatility- MassLive.com
We are living in a world filled with technology. It seems as if everyone has laptops, iPods, PDAs and cell phones. Many people consider these items necessary for everyday survival.
It wasn’t until I met my husband, an electronics gadget wizard, that I became interested in the advances in technology. We always say that it was technology that brought us together.
Cell phones are used daily for both personal and professional settings. It is amazing what you can do with a cell phone, such as text messaging, surfing the Internet, playing games and taking pictures and videos. Our favorite is using the Bluetooth connectivity to transfer files to each other’s phone and computer.
However, for people with hearing loss, it can be very difficult to hear with cell phones since the sound can be very low or have static. This is why my husband and I depend on text messaging instead of talking to each other on the cell phone. However, since we can’t always depend on text messaging for all calls, we had to find the best phone for us to use.
My husband, the technology expert, knew to look for cell phones that had M3 or T3 rating. A cell phone with M3 rating means it can work with a hearing aid or cochlear implant microphone, while a cell phone with a T3 rating works with a telecoil that couples with a phone handset. Many phones have both ratings that comply with American Standards Institute hearing aid compatibility guidelines.
In July 2003, the FCC ruled that national cell phone carriers such as T-Mobile, Cingular, Verizon and Sprint must sell 5 percent to 20 percent of phones with the M3/T3 rating and make them available nationwide, while manufacturers must provide two of their phones with the required rating. On Feb. 8, 2008, all providers and manufacturers of cell phones must produce 50 percent of their phones with the M3/T3 rating.
They will also require stores to let customers try out the phones before purchasing them.
A few phones with the ratings are the Motorola Razor v3/v3xx, LG CU 400, and the Samsung 309/319. Besides making sure I can hear on the phone, I also look for phones with large key pads, screen and numbers, making it easier for me to see.
In order to keep up with the age of electronics, we must make sure it is accessible for everyone.
You can learn more about Carrie Barrepski at her Web site, www.carrie writes.net She can be reached at cbarrepski@carriewrites.net
Wirear Brings Sexy Back to Hearing Aids
If sexy iPods are going to cause our hearing loss, then it only makes sense that sexy new hearing aids will restore it. Sun Kyung Sunwoo, of the Sydney University of Technology, and another winner of the Dyson Design Awards, has completely redesigned the hearing aid to make it a chic piece of jewelry that outperforms traditional models.
Wirear is an innovation in both form and function. It involves a sleek form that provides flexibility with a multiply colour range to suit the market. Utilisation of emerging energy efficient, ‘micro fuel cell’ extends its usability. No longer are hearing aids a device that carries a prosthetic appearance; they can now be accepted as an elegant fashion accessory that aims to remove the disability stigma attached to existing products and their wearer.
The existing range of hearing aids is classified as: Completely-In-The-Ear, In-The-Canal, In-The-Ear and Behind-The-Ear. Wirear is a new type of hearing aid that is an alternative solution for a variety of hearing deficiencies. Wirear has successfully achieved innovation in both aesthetics and durability that is radically different to current solutions. The internal components are arranged in a linear form rather than stacked. In this format Wirear provides more space inside without adding bulk, resolving the issue of cramped components in a small housing, an identified problem with existing hearing aids.
Wirear utilises a micro fuel cell, a miniature version of fuel cell that uses hydrogen from any hydrocarbon fuel. This technology is yet to be commercialized however; it is a proven technology as the power source of the future. The mechanical flexibility of the micro fuel cell has allowed the design to be organic so that the form naturally flows with the shape of the ear. A 2 ㎠of micro fuel cell has an estimated life of six years in this type of application proving a more sustainable energy source than the current zinc-air batteries that last approximately three weeks in this application.
The new form enhances usability and addresses a number of technical problems. The microphone is located in front of the ear, maximizing the opportunity of sound capture. The speaker is placed within the ear canal to reduce acoustic error resulting in improved sound quality and effectively decreasing the ‘echo’ sensation experienced when the close proximity of the speaker to the eardrum gives the sound a natural boost in volume. Another benefit of the distance between these elements is the reduction in auditory feedback.
3.3 Million Canadians Go without a Hearing Aid Solution Because of …
| 3.3 Million Canadians Go without a Hearing Aid Solution Because of … PR.com (press release), NY – 32 minutes ago Their products have been created to help the largest segment of the hearing-impaired population – those with a mild, age-related hearing loss, who currently … Continued |
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