Hearing Aids: Recent Developments

Abstract

Personal conferences and considerable correspondence were held by the author with manufacturers of hearing aids, and the article discusses the general problems of manufacturing and fitting. The author concludes: (1) In general, progress and development of hearing aids has been very good. There is a microphone, amplifier, and receiver in every hearing aid; each must be good if the unit is to give optimum service. (2) At least one company is making a serious effort to produce vacuum-tube hearing aids at a reasonable price. (3) There is need for continued attention to skilled prescription in the fitting of hearing aids. The best idea would be independent hearing aid clinics. (4) The standardization of battery connections should be continued after the present emergency so that users need not be confined to one source for re-stocking. (5) Extension of frequency response and control should be the object of further study. (6) The hard of hearing need further education in the limitations and values of what they are buying. (7) Speech pathologists and other workers in the field need a more complete understanding of the problems of the hard of hearing and what can be expected from present hearing aids. (8) Manufacturers have been able to secure satisfactory priority numbers in all cases, and thus far all manufacturers have been able to serve all persons requiring hearing aids.