MIT research findings could lead to improved hearing aid technology

Image from NCBI Bookshelf

Guess how many years it takes on average from the time someone thinks they have a hearing loss to the time they decide to do something about it? The answer: 7 years (HLAA Fact Sheet)! There are a number of factors that contribute to this fact including cosmetics and cost, but also the performance of hearing devices. Most people understand that hearing devices cannot restore normal hearing; however, they can help people with hearing loss hear in many situations and thus provide the gift of communication. 

There is a constant drive towards more advanced hearing aid technology development. The most common complaint I hear about hearing devices is when people are trying to pick out speech at restaurants or other scenarios where there is background noise. Although hearing devices can be fine-tune across different pitch changes, people's voices cannot be isolated or singled out from other amplified background noise and so all sounds are amplified. 

Recently, MIT researchers announced that they are exploring future technology possibilities since discovering a new mechanism involving the inner ear's ability to distinguish sounds. In 2007, these researchers reported that the "tiny, gel-like tectorial membrane, located in the inner ear, coordinates with the basilar membrane to fine tune the ear's ability to distinguish sounds." It was also found that the proteins of the tectorial membrane play an important in this process and a gene mutation can inhibit its function. 

Their goal is to mimic this interaction between the tectorial membrane and basilar membrane in a hearing device in an effort to focus on important frequencies for speech. This type of technology could be in the future, but who know when. To stay optimistic, it is wonderful to know researchers are working towards a goal that many millions of people suffering from hearing loss would appreciate. Stay tuned...

You can read more details about these mechanisms on the MIT website. 

via HearingSparks

Phonak Audéo PFE, Perfect Fit Earphones

Audéo PFE with microphone (left) and Audéo PFE (right)

I have fairly small ear canals and it can be difficult to find standard sized earphones that are comfortable. I currently have a pair of custom earmolds that I fit over standard iPod earbuds and although they are comfortable, they don't provide any noise-isolation features. 

After hearing a lot of buzz about the Phonak Audéo PFE from forums and briefly trying out my professor's pair and finding them very comfortable. I ordered a pair of white ones with a microphone from their website for $159 plus tax. The Audéo PFEs without a microphone retail at $139 plus tax. Available in black or white and with free shipping.

For this price, users have found the frequency quality excellent using the various different audio filters available. CNET reviews gave it the editor's choice in March 2009. 

What's included:

• 1 pair of Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones with microphone
• Audio filter box with 6 audio filters (2 grey, 4 black)*,  and changing tool
• Silicone ear tips – 3 pairs (1 pair S, 1 pair M, 1 pair L)
• ComplyTM foam tips - 1 pair M
• Cleaning tool for ear tips
• 2 silicone ear guides
• Carrying case

Coming up... a full review. 

Etymotic custom earpieces - are they worth it?

The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article written by Courtney Banks, who shares her experience with using a pair of custom-fit, noise-isolating earphones by Etymotic, Inc. Listening to any music device can be frustrated in the presence of background noise. There have been published studies that show the effects of listening to mp3 players at very loud volumes for extended periods of time. This type of exposure can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Since standard earpieces do not block excessive noise in the environment, people tend to crank up the volume on their mp3 players to hear over the noise. According to Etymotic, the custom-fit earphones can reduce ambient noise by 26 decibels.

Good news is that noise-isolating earphones are becoming increasingly more popular. For a more comfortable fit in the ear canal and for a better seal, custom earpieces can be added to Etymotic's Hf2 noise-isolating earphones ($179). The article describes how an audiologist can take impressions of the ear canal to create the custom piece, which fits on the earphones. These cost an additional $100, but according to Ms. Banks, they are well worth it! 

Check out a video of the custom earpieces - Wall Street Journal

To reach a wider audience, Etimoytic is selling the earpieces through Perfectearphones.com and plans to sell them in Apple stores by summertime. The standard earphones are purchased with a voucher. Simply take the voucher to an audiologist's office to have impressions taken of your ear canal. These impressions are used to create the custom earpiece. Check out the full WSJ article here. 

AudiologyNOW! 2008

AudiologyNOW!, the annual audiology convention held by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) was at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC from April 2-5. This year, the convention was themed "Hear to Stay" to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the American Academy of Audiology. With approximately 7,000 attendees, the event offered learning labs, research poster displays, technological information and the Audiology Solutions exposition.

The expo featured products and services related to audiology including the latest developments in hearing aid technology. The expo included the following categories among many others: diagnostic instruments, hearing aid manufacturers and accessories, implantable devices, earmold/impression material, listening devices, earphones, batteries, and hearing protection. The Employment Service Center is available each year to provide an opportunity for employers and job seekers to network.

The DiscovEARy Zone was a free and interactive station designed for kids to educate about the human ear and hearing loss. More specifically, information about how the ear works, dangerous sounds, information about how to protect ears from loud sounds and hearing screenings provided by audiologists on-site. This was made possible using interactive computer kiosks, hands-on learning tables, displays and listening stations. The DiscovEARy Zone debuted at last year's convention and was open to the public.

As a first-time attendee, I enjoyed every aspect of the experience and felt I gained some valuable resources as a student. One of the highlights of the event was having an opportunity to meet audiologists, other audiology doctoral students, and professionals and individuals involved in our profession. There was a wealth of information available, such as recent research findings and interesting case studies to learn from. With all the great events and activities, it was just a matter of having enough time to experience everything.

Next year, AudiologyNOW! will be held in Dallas, TX on April 1-4, 2009. For more information and to download the program (PDF) for AudiologyNOW! 2008, you can visit www.audiologynow.org.

Japan's new bone conduction cellphone

If you have trouble hearing in noisy environments when talking on your cellphone, Japan may have a solution for you. A popular Japanese cellphone provider, KDDI announced that they will release a bone conduction cellphone model A1407PT by Pantech in the next few weeks.

Bone conduction is not a new technology and has been used as an alternative amplification device for hearing impaired individuals who cannot benefit from traditional hearing aids. The basic principle of bone conduction is that a device, in this case a cellphone speaker, is pressed to the head just behind the ear on the mastoid bone. Sound is heard via sounds waves transversing the skull rather than through the outer and middle ear.

This niche product is aimed at workers in Japan that are at building sites with background noise that masks out speech from the cellphone. This technology will only be available in Japan at this time.

Credit: Tech.co.uk

Money magazine reviews “Noise-Isolating” earbuds

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The current issue of Money magazine features connecting a review of noise-isolating earbuds to a topic that appears to be receiving more attention in recent months than it has in the past: noise-induced hearing loss. With the popularity of mp3 players, as well as the risk they present with improper use, some magazines are finding good reason to discuss the hearing factors involved in consumer-product reviews. “Easy Listening: Noise-isolating earbuds deliver music in peace, no matter what’s going on around you” by Wilson Rothman channels the main healthy hearing message using a consumer-friendly approach.

Rothman reviews six low-priced model earbuds and declares Creative’s Zen Aurvana, priced at $100, as the Field Test Winner. But before he names the winner, he notes the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( www.nidcd.com), which states that exposure to sounds louder than 85 decibels for an extended period of time can cause hearing loss. He further mentions a significant detail that most consumers are unaware of: the maximum volume level on the iPod is 115 decibels. Rothman compares this sound level to a chain saw and grounded jet and provides an alternative to turning up your music to block background noise – buy a pair of decent noise-isolating earbuds to use with your mp3 player.

Although these are not “noise-canceling” headphones as Rothman points out, he covers all the essentials in his review of some brand-name noise-isolating earbuds and gives consumers a range to choose from. I use the Apple In-Ear earbuds and agree with Rothman that the price and sound quality are good but I think it has a couple drawbacks. My ear canals are fairly narrow and they fall out of my ear canal too often while exercising even though I use the appropriate size inserts. Without a nice tight fit, it is difficult to achieve its noise-isolating capacity.