The Hearing Aid Secrets

For Andrew, the roar of motors, crying babies, the sound of the bell and the door close is the most wonderful vacation experience. When people yearn for peace with vacationing deserted area, Andrew actually go to a crowded place. View wonder people do not make it uncomfortable. For him, the noise, it is very beautiful. Because Andrew previously deaf. Now an electronic ear allows him free from silence.

The point of a microchip

Andrew is first patient at Marien hospital, Duren-Birkesdorf, Germany artificial ear fitted by prof. Paul Banfai. Systems engineering and micro electronic switch was developed at the Institute Fraunhof, Duisburg. Core of this prosthesis is none other than a microchip. Magnitude only 36 mm square. The chip stimulates the auditory nerve with artificial electrical waves. For a healthy ear, the task is carried out by the fine hairs on one of the inner ear membrane. Inner ear called the cochlea that is behind the eardrum and the small bones located at the tip of the ear canal. Center line the cochlea was only 7 mm and filled with fluid that will move with the sound wave. Fine hairs that will automatically resonate and transform the movement into an electrical signal. Complex process that is taken over the chip.

Doctor Michael Bollerot engineer who played a role in the development of electronic ear Fraunhof Institute explains the function of the chip. "Chip has a large amount of electrical current that helps to form a signal called a pulse. Loud faint sound depends on the strength of an electric current. Signals coming sooner the higher tone." But not only the chip implanted under the skin, but also high-frequency receivers. A receiver that is heard and present it to the chip. Chip and receiving equipment that only the coin. The planting operation is only normal operation.

Just for those who are deaf

The first artificial ear is still technically simple discovered by dr. William House of Los Angeles nearly two decades ago. Prof. Banfai estimates there are 50,000 deaf in Germany. Half of which is expected to be endowed with artificial ear. Until now, only about thousands the world deaf ear can hear again thanks to electronics. Five hundred of them live in Germany. Besides in Duren, they obtain help in Hannover Medical School, university clinic in Kiel, Heidelberg and Vienna. But only a few people who wear a prosthesis with artificial chip Fraunhof Institute. Before undergoing surgery, Andrew must first undergo a variety of tests. Because the condition that the person who truly deaf. Prosthetic it is not suitable for people who suffer from hearing loss only. For them there is a separate tool. Surgery time semicircular incision made behind the ear. Prof early. Banfai will broke through into the cochlea. In the cochlea which was mounted a small metal plate with 16 electrodes consisting of very fine wires. The electrodes connect directly with listeners neural chip. Small box contains a chip and a high-frequency receiver is implanted directly under the skin. Prof. Banfai course does not include the metal electrodes to the inner ear. Why direct insertion was full of risk.

Although there has been technical improvements, users still need a lot of exercise equipment, in order to understand properly. For example by giving a test sheet content on some parts, for example, be a ten-word. Then a tape recorder playing. Object should be a mark on the list every time I hear one of the words that have been defined. If the patient has been passed in this test. continued training with the rest of the sentence. Until finally, Andrew can participate in normal life thanks to the artificial ear. Even the experts still disagree, the patient was quite pleased. Hearing for Andrew is a miracle.