Ucsf Audiology Clinic Offers World's First Disposable Hearing Aids
The University of California, San Francisco Audiology Clinic will launch new research in October to study the world's first disposable hearing aids, costing about $40 and lasting approximately 40 days.
Robert Sweetow, PhD, director of the clinic, said the devices are manufactured by Songbird Hearing, Inc. of Princeton, N.J. and will be available to patients in the study later this fall. Although the manufacturer has market test sites in other parts of the country, UCSF is the only site where research is on-going that will compare the disposable aids to conventional hearing aids.
Sweetow explained that these "one size fits all" devices are designed to fit entirely into the ear canal. "In reality," he said, "they actually fit 70-80 percent of adult male ears and about 50 percent of adult female ears. The instruments have a very soft 'mushroom' cap that fits about half way into the ear canal. This relatively deep placement accomplishes two goals. It produces a very good acoustic seal that minimizes feedback or whistling, and it may help to reduce the common complaint that the user's own voice sounds as if he or she is speaking in a barrel."
The disposable devices last from 30-40 days at which time the encapsulated battery expires. At this point, the user simply disposes of the old one and replaces the device. With the ease of dispensing the disposable hearing aid, it is hoped that the 20 million Americans who need hearing aids but are not wearing them will evaluate the use of these new devices. Studies from the National Council on Aging have found that hearing impaired individuals who do not seek treatment are at risk not only for social isolation, but also for increased stress that can translate to stress-related illnesses.
There are several potential advantages to disposable hearing instruments, Sweetow said. Because of their short life expectancy, mechanical and electrical breakdown or blockage with earwax is not as likely compared to available hearing aids. If there is earwax blockage, the instrument can be returned to the audiologist or simply replaced. Another major advantage is that as technology continues to improve, the instrument won't become obsolete.
Hearing aid wearers can find it disheartening and a financial burden to spend thousands of dollars on new devices only to discover that six months later a better instrument becomes available, he said. With the disposable hearing device, there are no additional costs such as battery replacements, repair and maintenance or insurance. Finally, there is the advantage that patients can go to the audiologist and be fitted with hearing aids during the same visit.
sciencedaily.com
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