Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 12/12/2013 14:30:02

Title: Does battery size limit sampling frequency of hearing aids?
Post by: thedoc on 12/12/2013 14:30:02
Eion MacDonald asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Thank you for interviews on hearing aids and tinnitus (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/).

I recently got a hearing aid and your site answered many questions I asked in hospital but were not answered. Specifically about battery size limiting the frequency range sampled.

Thank you for this.

Perhaps hospitals should refer folk to your site for understanding.

Eion MacDonald

What do you think?
Title: Re: Does battery size limit sampling frequency of hearing aids?
Post by: evan_au on 12/12/2013 17:32:08
Modern hearing aids are marvelously complex devices* - but they consume far more power than the human cochlea, and so power consumption is a major constraint.

There is little difficulty in getting modern electronics to sample sounds with CD quality, recording sounds up to 20kHz with 16 bit resolution. Every smartphone has this capability, but they do require recharging regularly!

However, not much useful information is conveyed at frequencies above 10kHz, and many adults cannot hear frequencies above 10kHz. Most of the energy of human speech is below 3kHz, with some useful sounds extending up to around 6kHz (eg to help distinguish "s" from "f").

If someone has degraded hearing above 2kHz, and almost no response at 5kHz...
This does remind us that modern workplace safety rules prevent us exposing people to continuous loud sounds, as they destroy the sound-sensing cells in your ears. But many people intentionally subject themselves to the same damaging sound levels through their smart devices, which is likely to lead to later hearing problems - not so smart?

*Modern hearing aids can be reprogrammed through a computer as your hearing changes, and the two hearing aids talk to each other "behind your back" using wireless to help localise the source of significant sounds.
Title: Re: Does battery size limit sampling frequency of hearing aids?
Post by: RD on 13/12/2013 00:17:22
All other factors being equal, then the only parameter the size of the battery determines is how frequently you'll have to replace it. Very loud hearing aids will require more frequent battery replacement, or a bigger battery, because they use more power.

If your hearing range isn't what it was when using a hearing aid with a fresh battery,
then your hearing may have deteriorated since you first started using those aids :
if so adjusted/replacement hearing aids may be necessary.
Title: Re: Does battery size limit sampling frequency of hearing aids?
Post by: Jujee on 16/12/2021 11:54:59
My dr. prescribed me hearing aids couple years ago, I spend few month to find exect ones I feel comfortable with. Always heard outside sounds. But when I have found the perfect one my life became so much easier I found out I can use heariing aid spam. The point is you need to find a qualfield doctor who gonna pick the best hearing aids for you