Posted on March 2, 2010.
The history of hearing aids - Introduction Throughout the history of hearing aids, there has always been a critical factor, which is that the person in trouble hearing must be prepared to cooperate with doctors to find the best solution. In the distant past, many people do not want to be embarrassed realization of devices with them enormous. Fortunately for these people, it is now much easier to enjoy life with a full hearing. Now take a look at the history of these fantastic devices reinforcement.
Timeline
Before 1890. Acoustic devices made of wood, metal or other substances.
1890-1920. Rather portable devices that do not have the functionality.
1920-1950. Rather portable devices that have improved with vacuum tubes and transistors, which makes later models very easy to use and discreet.
1960-1980. Other developments allow hearing aids to be fitted inside the ear.
1980-1990. Computer technology provides programmable hearing aids in the world. excellent improvement.
1990-2000. Models that fit completely inside the ear canal become common.
2000 - present. Behind the ear models have taken the forefront in the design.
Early Hearing Aids
Hearing Aids in hundreds of years have been great features, usually of wood, animal horn, metal or shells. Although these large ears trumpets were slightly effective in helping people hear better, they also have a brand, be physically obvious to anyone who saw. For the user to experience an increase in the hearing, he would take the camera along its ears in the direction of the sound he wanted. Of course, small horns could be used, but the effect was the same.
Microphone
Thus, hearing aids unfortunately did not grow very rapidly until the advent of electricity in the late 1800s. Used for the first time in hearing aids in 1892, these early models were unable to help much. A few years later, there was a new model developed hearing aid. These devices sit on tables and amplified the sound using a microphone made of carbon dust and an electric battery. They were an evolution of the work of Alexander Graham Bell on the phone. This was later supplanted by solid carbon microphones, but the price of these special models was beyond the reach of almost everyone. The old conventional hearing aid trumpets were still popular demand, but modern hearing aids was not too far.
Vacuum tubes and transistors
During the 1920s and beyond, hearing aids have begun using the technology of vacuum tubes to improve the portability of these great devices. Production has increased and so has the competition between different manufacturers. However, this particular model of hearing aid would not stay popular for very long. When the transistor was invented in the 1940s, the size of the hearing aid, which has already been carried around since he was so big in size, significantly decreased. John Bardeen, William Shockley and Walter Brattan improve this technology, and this model is the shape that all hearing updates are made. The small size, inexpensive price, and battery life long helped many people to hear better.
These new models have been worn under clothing or in a shirt pocket. The only visual part of the hearing aid is the earpiece. When magnetic pickups were developed, the hearing is again much smaller. Some models have been attached to glasses, integrated in a much broader accessory.
Other developments
In the 1960s, broke new ground directional microphones, which caused a very high level of understanding for the user. Even during those years, the circuits have been built better than words could be distinguished from background noise, like a breeze blowing in one corner of the street. The technology grew fur.