Ear Amplifier

You’ve likely seen the hearing aid manufacturer advertised them on television—small electronic sound ear amplifier that allows users to enjoy nighttime TV without disturbing sleepers, or to hear their toddlers from many yards away.

While these personal sound hearing aid amplifiers may help people hear things at low volume or at a distance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to ensure that consumers don’t mistake them—or use them as substitutes—for approved hearing aids from hearing aid manufacturer.

“Hearing aids and personal sound hearing aid amplifier products (PSAPS) can both improve our ability to hear sound,” says Eric Mann, M.D., Ph.D, deputy director of FDA’s Division of Ophthalmic, Neurological, And Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices. “ear amplifier and hearing aid are both wearable, and some of their technology and function is similar.”

Mann notes, however, that the ear amplifier products are different in that only the hearing aids are intended to make up for impaired hearing.

He says consumers should buy a personal sound hearing aid amplifier only after ruling out hearing loss as a reason for getting one. “If you suspect hearing loss, get your hearing evaluated by a health care professional,” he adds.

Mann says that choosing a hearing aid amplifier as a substitute for a hearing aid can lead to more damage to your hearing. “It can cause a delay in diagnosis of a potentially treatable condition. And that delay can worsen the condition and lead to other complications,” he says.

Treatments for impaired hearing can be as simple as the removal of a wax plug in the doctor’s office or, in rare cases, as severe as major surgery to remove a tumor or growth in the middle or inner ear, says Mann.

In March 2009, FDA issued guidance describing how hearing aid and personal ear amplifier devices differ.

The recently issued guidance defines a hearing aid as a sound-amplifying device intended to compensate for impaired hearing.

A personal hearing aid amplifier is not intended to make up for impaired hearing. Instead, they are designed for non-hearing-impaired consumers to amplify sounds in the environment for some reasons, such as recreational activities.

The difference between personal ear amplifier and hearing aid are among the topics covered in a new Web page devoted to hearing aids that FDA launched today.

Mann says that consumers who suspect they suffer from hearing loss should obtain a thorough medical evaluation, preferably by an ear specialist, to identify any medically or surgically treatable causes of hearing loss. Persons exhibiting symptoms of hearing loss should see a doctor or hearing health care professional to have their hearing tested.

You may have hearing loss if

• people say you are shouting when you talk to them
• you need the TV or radio turned up louder than other people do
• you often ask people to repeat themselves because you can’t hear or understand them, especially in groups or when there is background noise
• you can hear better out of one ear than the other
• you have to strain to hear
• you can’t hear a dripping faucet or a high note of a violin

• Self-reported
• A factor analysis was performed to identify one factor “degree of hearing loss”
• The following questions were included in the factor:

–Number of ears impaired (one or two)

–Stated hearing loss (Mild, Moderate, Severe, Profound)

–Scores on 6 APHAB-EC – like questions (Scaled 1-5)

–When NOT using a hearing aid, how difficult is it for you to follow conversations in the presence of noise

• People were segmented into 6 groups of same size (16.67% of all hearing

impaired in the sample)

Ear amplifier is suitable for anyone who wants to hear things louder. For example, people with normal hearing might sparingly use a hearing aid amplifier for activities like birdwatching. You can think of hearing aid amplifier as binoculars for your ears: they zoom in on what you can hear already so you can appreciate it a bit more.

The best way to answer this question is by getting your hearing tested. If you have trouble understanding speech or you listen to the TV too loud, it might be time to visit your local hearing specialist to ask them whether you need a hearing aid or ear amplifier. They will be able to tell you if you’re experiencing hearing loss and would recommend hearing aids.. Seek the help of a hearing care professional to make the right decision.

Dispenser

• Professionalism of dispenser
• Quality of dispenser’s counselling
• Quality of service during hearing aid fitting period
• Quality of service after purchase

Product features

• Battery life
• Value (performance versus money spent)
• Managing whistling/feedback/buzzing
• Ease of changing battery
• Overall fit/ Comfort
• Visibility to others
• Reliability

Product performance (Sound quality, signal process and listening situations)

• Conversation in large groups
• Conversation in small groups
• Use in noisy situations
• Richness or fidelity of sound
• Clearness of tone and sound
• Natural sounding
• Leisure activities
• Watching TV
• Comfort with loud sounds
• On the telephone
• Conversation with one Person

The hearing aids amplifiers adoption rates for age 34 and uders is 31%, the hearing aids amplifiers adoption rates for age between 35 to 64 is 20%, the hearing aids amplifiers adoption rates for age 65+ is 40%.  [USA]

From The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA)  hearing aids research ,  48% of owners/users who got hearing aids amplifier in last 5 years get regularly improve qulity of life. and 40% got Occasionally improve ,  9% got rarely improve.  Only 2% get never improve.