Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Some hearing aids have the ability to
communicate with smart devices without
the need of a streaming device. Again,
communication with other devices pro-
vides hearing aid wearers the ability to
hear the signal in both ears, and allows
the microphone on a smart device to be
used as a remote microphone. When
hearing aids communicate directly with
smart devices, no streamer is needed,
resulting in one less device to keep track
of and maintain. Also, direct communica-
tion between the hearing aids and smart
device allows the smart device to act
as a remote control in adjusting the hear-
ing aids.
Wireless technology is not lim-
ited to applications with hearing aids.
Implantable devices and personal sound
amplification products (PSAPs) also
have wireless communication capabili-
ties (see Chapter 4). It is understandable
that implantable devices, being rela-
tively recent advances in hearing assis-
tance technology, would lag behind the
technologically competitive hearing aid
industry in implementing contemporary
wireless technology (e.g., Bluetooth).
However, cochlear implant devices have
recently employed such technology to
open new doors for those with implants.
Now, many cochlear implant recipients
have the ability to receive signals directly
from Bluetooth-enabled devices such as
smartphones, televisions, MP3 players,
computers, iPads, and so forth. A market-
ing image in Figure 15-1 illustrates some
of the applications available via contem-
porary wireless technology.
Technology Not Directly
Related to Hearing Aids
and Implantable Devices
Emergency Management
and Notification Services
Having a life or death emergency to deal
with is a scary event for anyone. If there
is access to a telephone or mobile phone,
a 911 call can be placed for emergency
assistance. For individuals with hearing
loss, there can be greater anxiety because
of the increased time needed to place
the call through nontraditional means
in order to reach emergency authorities.
Mobile devices, teletypewriters (TTY),
captioned telephones, and videophones
can all be used in cases of emergency.
However, since we cannot always pre-
dict where we will be and in what kind of
situation (e.g., physical injury and with-
out hearing aids or implant at the time of
the emergency), these methods of calling
for assistance may not be successful. This
is especially true if one dials 911 and is
unable to carry on a conversation with
the emergency operator. In some cases,
the emergency operator has the technol-
ogy to pinpoint your location. Although
there are many options for letting others
know about an emergency, two examples
using newer technologies are discussed
here. The first is the use of the Smart911
service. This is a national database emer-
gency system and an enhancement of
existing 911 services. It is completely
voluntary to participate in this national
