Products & services

What is a hearing aid?

       A hearing aid is a sound amplifier that has been reduced to a small size for portability. Hearing aids amplify sound signals. To help people who are deaf or hard of hearing hear sound.

Components of a hearing aid

       Hearing aids have three main components: a microphone, an amplifier, and headphones. There is also an important component that provides power to the amplifier, which is a battery.

       The microphone of a hearing aid is responsible for converting sound signals into electrical signals. A commonly used microphone is an electret microphone, which is a small microphone connected together with a built-in preamplifier and has a wide frequency range.

       amplifier Its function is to amplify the electrical signal from the microphone and send it to the headphones. The amplifier works by receiving electrical power from the headphone battery. The function of headphones is to convert an amplified electrical signal back into an audio signal. In addition to the microphone, there are also telecoil and audio inputs.

       Telecoid is an electrical coil wrapped around a metal core. It receives sound signals sent in the form of an electromagnetic field and then induces a coil to produce a weak electrical signal. Forward to the sound amplification section, such as receiving electromagnetic signals from a telephone or from an Induction loop system used in schools for the deaf.

       Audio input is a channel for receiving external audio signals directly into the hearing aid via a plug-in cable, such as receiving signals from a radio receiver. telephone receiver tape player and includes connecting hearing aids to the CROS system.

Types of hearing aids

       Each type of hearing aid has a different shape. But they have the same basic components and testing methods.
       1. Body hearing aids are hearing aids that look like a rectangular box, larger than other types of hearing aids. Inside the box are the microphone and amplifier parts together with an extension cord (Cord) to headphones (receiver). The hearing aid box can be worn in a shirt pocket. This type of hearing aid has high magnification power and is therefore suitable for children and the elderly. However, box-type hearing aids also have a disadvantage, namely that the microphone is not positioned to pick up sound naturally.
       2. Behind the ear hearing aids (BTE) are hearing aids that hang behind the ear. The device is smaller than a box. Inside the hearing aid is a microphone component. Amplifier and speakers combined together Uses a small battery From the end of the curved tube (ear hook) of the hearing aid. There is a plastic tube attached that carries sound into the ear canal through the ear mold. The advantage of this type of hearing aid is that the sound reception position is close to natural because there is a microphone above the ear.
       3. Eyeglass hearing aids are eyeglass hearing aids with a microphone, amplifier and speakers embedded in the temples. From the speakers there is a plastic tube that carries sound into the ear through the ear mold. This type of hearing aid is often used by patients who have vision problems and need to use glasses regularly. It can also be used for patients who need hearing aids in the CROS system.
       4. In the ear hearing aids (ITE) are small hearing aids that have a microphone, amplifier, and speaker all in the same part. The device is inserted into the ear (concha). It is considered a hearing aid with a very natural sound reception position.
       5. In the canal hearing aids (ITC) are smaller hearing aids than ITE. They have three basic components combined. and the device is inserted into the ear canal at the beginning
       6. Completely in the canal hearing aids (CIC) is the smallest hearing aid that is inserted deep into the ear canal.

       In addition, there are many other special types of hearing aids, such as:
CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signal) hearing aid system
       It is a hearing aid used for patients who have good hearing in one ear. The other ear cannot use a hearing aid. The technique of the CROS system is to use a microphone to pick up sound from the damaged ear. Then bring the sound to expand and
Output the speaker into the good ear. This hearing aid system can be BTE, Eyeglass, or ITE. Another form of the CROS system, BICROS, is used for patients with hearing problems in the good ear.
Therefore the sound in the good ear must be amplified as well.
Bone conduction hearing aids
       Used with patients who have conductive hearing loss, have fluid or pus flowing out of the ear all the time, or do not have an ear canal. There are two types of hearing aids that conduct sound into the ear through the bones: Body aids and Eyeglass aids.
Cochlear Implant
       It is different from normal hearing aids and is used for patients with Profound hearing loss who do not benefit from wearing conventional hearing aids. The doctor will surgically implant them.
An electrode is placed in the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve, causing awareness of sound to be heard.

Making an ear impression (Ear impression)

The equipment consists of
       1. Sponge or foam for insertion into the ear canal (Foam stop)
       2. Silicone with spoon
       3. Silicone hardener paste
       4. Syringe

The process of making an ear print
       1. The ear to be printed must be clean and free of foreign objects in the ear canal. Therefore, before making an ear print,
Check the ears for inflammation, fluid, pus, or earwax blockage. If any of these abnormalities are found, you should see an ear, nose, and throat doctor to clean the ear canal first.
       2. Insert the sponge or foam into the ear canal about 1.5 centimeters deep or about the second curve.
Try to keep the face of the sponge or foam upright.
       3. Mix silicone with hardener. Scoop out the silicone to fit the patient’s ear and squeeze out the solution.
To harden from a tube approximately 1.5 centimeters long onto the silicone. If the patient has large ears, additional silicone may be required accordingly. After that, mix and mix by squeezing and kneading until combined.
       4. Put the mixed silicone into the syringe.
       5. Inject the silicone into the concha and helix completely.
       6. Wait for the silicone to harden. It takes about 10 -15 minutes.
       7. Remove the ear mold from the ear. After that, check to see if it’s complete.

Poor or untidy ear molds look like this:
       1. Canal is too short because the sponge was not inserted deep enough.
       2. The canal is not fully formed because the sponge was not inserted into the ear canal.
       3. The silicone is not completely filled in the helix.
       4. The ear mold is not stable. Because the time allowed to harden is not enough. or the mixture of the hardener is too little.
       5. There are cracks or wrinkles on the surface of the ear mold. This indicates that the hardener mixture is too high causing the silicone to harden too quickly.

Submitting an ear mold
       1. It should be packed in a box that is strong enough. To prevent pressure on the ear mold for a long time. It may cause it to lose its shape.
       2. Fill in the details in the order form.
       3. The results of the hearing test should be attached. For the benefit of designing ear molds to suit hearing disorders.