Low cost multi-use hearing aid

Authors

  • Nachiketa Rout Lecturer (Speech and Hearing), AYJ National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Sudip Paul Senior Research Fellow, School of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U), Varanasi
  • PG Waghmare Electronic Technician, AYJ National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • R Patnaik Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U), Varanasi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v18i1.10412

Keywords:

hearing aids

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to develop a low cost multi use body level hearing aid (HA) targeting the Asian population.

Method: The study began with need identification. In this stage the researcher wanted to identify the changes which the parents and professionals thought would improve the functionality of the present say body level hearing aids. A survey of 106 hearing aid users, parents and professionals was done. All had been exposed to hearing aids since five years or more. They were asked to name one change which can be incorporated into the present day HA aids to increase its functionality and utility. Six major changes were significantly (pd 0.05) recommended. The changes were considered to develop a prototype which was then field tested for its efficacy.

Results: the six changes which were identified by the 106 participants included incorporating better cords, better battery backup, easy repair facilities, low battery indicator, torch facilities along with a vibrating alert. A prototype was developed at a very low cost of 936 rupee with facilities of a strong class HA, vibrating doorbell alert, rechargeable battery, torch light and a vibrating doorbell alert and a low battery indicator. It was found to function satisfactorily and won the prestigious Sushrut Innovation award by the Department of Science and Technology, India for year 2011.

Conclusions: the developed prototype can be considered for large scale production. It would bring down the cost of the prototype and beneficiaries would get an advantage of assistive devices along with the hearing aid.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v18i1.10412

Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol 2012; 18(1): 36-41

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
548
PDF
137

Downloads

Published

2012-04-20

How to Cite

Rout, N., Paul, S., Waghmare, P., & Patnaik, R. (2012). Low cost multi-use hearing aid. Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 18(1), 36–41. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v18i1.10412

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Original Articles

License

Manuscripts submitted for publication in the Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology must not have been previously submitted or published. Accepted papers become the permanent property of the Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. By submitting a manuscript, the authors(s) agree that copyrights for their articles are automatically transferred to Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, if and when the articles are accepted for publication.

The use, in this journal, of registered trade names, trade marks, etc. without special acknowledgement does not imply that such names, as defined by the relevant protection laws, be regarded as unprotected, and, thus, free for general use.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

 

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).