History of Hearing Aids
1600s & 1700s
During the
1600s and 1700s the “trumpet” style hearing aid was used. As you can see the
trumpet had one wide end to gather and amplify sound through the narrow end to
direct sound to one ear. Trumpets were made from animal horn, sea shell, glass
and later, copper and brass.
1800s
During this
era is when efforts to conceal the hearing aid with flesh colors began. Hearing
aids were still quite large at this time but were designed to be integrated
into collars, head wear and clothing. Royal members had hearing aids built
right into their thrones for discretion.
1900s
The advent
of electricity introduced a new generation of hearing aids in the 1900s.
Electronic amplified sound through a carbon microphone and battery were worn
around the neck in boxes containing visible wires. Smaller batteries were
created to reduce the size of the hearing aid and a simple switch was added to
turn the device on or off. By mid-1990s
hearing aid technology allowed more customization for any user’s lifestyle.
Sound could be altered to be amplified, filtered, and reduced when needed in
any surrounding.
Hearing Aids Today
Hearing aids
today are smaller than ever in a light compact form yet are still powerful and
offer complete comfort for the user. They adapt to the change in surroundings
and can be streamed through telephones, stereos, televisions and computers to
keep up with modern technology. Hearing aids are made in sleek designs with
customized options and colors for complete personalization.
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