OBJECTIVES
After viewing a Power Point presentation on the different styles of hearing aids, the students will be able to decipher one from the other with 100% accuracy. They will also be able to discuss and understand a quality hearing aid maintenance program with 100% accuracy.
1. The students will identify and list the hearing aids that are presented in
class.
2. The students will demonstrate their understanding of a quality hearing aids
maintenance program by practicing with models.CLASS ACTIVITIES
I. Introduction
1. The teacher will ask the students what kinds of hearing aids they wear.
2. The teacher will list these on the board.
3. The teacher will make the students aware that there are different kinds of hearing aids
that have specific
characteristics that make them different from the others.
4. The teacher will tell the students that they will be learning about the different styles of hearing aids available.
5. The teacher will tell the class that they will also be learning about the different kinds of maintenance involved in caring
for hearing aids, so they can work to their maximum usage.
II. Instruction6. The teacher will present a Power Point presentation highlighting the different styles of hearing aids.
7. The teacher will explain the specific characteristics of each of the forms of amplification.
8. The teacher will show pictures of the different kinds of hearing aids on the Power Point presentation.
9. The teacher will show the students a web site entitled "Are All Hearing Aids the Same?" which gives additional
information on the hearing aids that are available.
10. The teacher will continue with the Power Point presentation, giving the information on a quality hearing aid maintenance
program.
III. Practice11. The teacher will have the classroom set up in such a way that there are different kinds of hearing aids placed at
workstations around the room.
12. Each of the hearing aids at each work station will have a specific number assigned to it.
13. Utilizing the information presented in the Power Point presentation, the students will fill out a worksheet with the name
of the hearing aid that corresponds to the number on the paper.
14. Utilizing the information given in the Power Point presentation, the students will name three characteristics that apply to
that hearing aid.
15. The students will then demonstrate the steps involved in a good hearing aid maintenance program by using the steps
given in the model of a quality hearing aid maintenance program by performing the process on the hearing aids located
at the workstation.EVALUATION
The students will demonstrate their understanding of the material through having each students design his/her own web site. Each student will be assigned a different hearing aid to discuss on the web site. Each web site must also include information on a quality hearing aid maintenance program.ANALYSIS OF THE AUDIENCE
Demographic Characteristics
There are 15 students in this class including 8 boys and 7 girls with an age range of 14-18. All of the students are in ninth through twelfth grade and are deaf/hard-of-hearing. The classroom is set in a language resource room that is part of this school's program for students with hearing loss. The students have mild-to-moderate forms of hearing loss, 11 of which are congenital. There are 4 that were acquired after birth. Two were due to Meningitis, one was due to excessive otitis media during early childhood, and one was due to an accident which took place during middle childhood. 12 of the hearing losses are bi-lateral and 3 and uni-lateral. The class is taught orally through the use of residual hearing, amplification, and speech reading.
This school is set in a suburban setting which is about 20 miles east of the city of Pittsburgh. These students come from a 30 mile radius around the Pittsburgh area. All of the students were born and raised in this area of Western Pennsylvania. The students are middle class and have parents who work in the city of Pittsburgh and it's suburbs. The majority of the parents are employed in white-collar office jobs.
Topic Specific Characteristics
The students in this class are of average intelligence. Due to their hearing losses, they are slightly below average in their language development. They have a less than average vocabulary and exhibit some problems with articulation. This is why they usually spend part of their day out of the mainstream in the resource room.
Since most of these students have been dealing with hearing aids since they were small children, they should have an idea of what kinds of amplification are available to them. They should also be aware of the maintenance and care that should be taken of their hearing aids so that they can ensure maximum performance and amplification.
Due to the fact that the students are older, they may want to know about the different styles of hearing aids that are available to them. This information will allow them to make informed decisions concerning the style of amplification that they may choose in the future. Along with this, a quality hearing aid maintenance program should be reviewed and established.The material will be presented through a lecture that will be guided by a Power Point Presentation. The presentation will have notes on each of the different styles of hearing aids, illustrations of each, and information on the ASHA Hearing Aid Maintenance Program. The students will get to participate in a hands-on activity to break up the lecture so that they do not get overwhelmed with the new material.
CONTENT
I. THE SIX MAJOR STYLES OF HEARING AIDS
1. BODY AID
A. Characteristics
-very powerful
-the oldest style of hearing aid
-this is the least popular style because of it's size
B. Advantages
-has a lot of power
-controls are large, convenient for easy manipulation
-there is less feedback for people who are bedridden
C. Disadvantages
-cosmetically unattractive
-big and bulky
-there is no bilateral amplification
-the mic is located at the chest and this does not allow some sounds to travel directly into the
hearing aid for amplification.
2. BEHIND THE EAR AID (BTE)
A. Characteristics
-worn behind the ear
-the earmold is separate from the actual hearing aid
-the earmold is connected to the hearing aid by the tubing
-this style of hearing aid has about 20% of the market share
B. Advantages
-offers a more powerful telecoil
-more output and gain than in smaller hearing aids
-direct auditory input is available because an auditory trainer can be directly attached to the
hearing aid
-especially good for children because as the ear grows, only the earmold needs to be changed
-increased flexibility: the settings can be changed if the hearing loss changes
C. Disadvantages
-more noticeable than smaller hearing aids
-some people view these hearing aids to look "old fashioned"
-less secure so that smaller children may lose them
-a little difficult to put on and adjust
3. GLASSES AID
A. Characteristics
-attached to the bow on the frame of the glasses
-very rare
B. Advantages
-can increase the intensity of the sound if it is on the glasses
-fairly low in cost
-can be adjusted as needed
C. Disadvantages
-very inflexible
-the person must remember their glasses to remember their hearing aid
-can be a hassle
4. IN THE EAR (ITE)
A. Characteristics
-fits into the concha
-very common
B. Advantages
-cosmetically acceptable
-better mic placement
-easy to put on and adjust
-less expensive than smaller hearing aids
-telecoil and direct audio input are available
C. Disadvantages
-more feedback in a very severe loss
-in young children, the style may be impractical because the ear canal changes in shape and size
-may need greater power in the telecoil
5. IN THE CANAL (ITC)
A. Characteristics
-smaller than the ITE
-is worn within the ear canal
-common
B. Advantages
-cosmetically acceptable because the hearing aid is very well hidden from view
-has the natural resonance of the concha
-less feedback than the ITE
-users note less wind noise
C. Disadvantages
-not enough power
-telecoil is usually not available
-small controls and battery may be hard to adjust
-poor fitting in small ear canals
-more expensive than the ITE
6. COMPLETELY IN THE CANAL (CIC)
A. Characteristics
-worn entirely in the ear canal
-very small
-the hearing aid is completely hidden from view
B. Advantages
-cosmetically accepted
-reduces wind effect
-easy to remove and insert
-feedback problems are reduced
-better amplification because it distorts the natural shape of the ear the least
C. Disadvantages
-limited adjustments can be made
-very small battery and control size may be hard to manipulate and adjust
-some ear canal structures may not be properly fitted for this type of hearing aid
-there is NOT a wide range of models available
-very expensive
II. A QUALITY HEARING AID MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
1. MATERIALS THAT YOU WILL NEED
A. Battery tester
B. Hearing aid stethoscope or an earmold with tubing
C. Cleaning supplies
-pipe cleaner
-reamer
-air bulb
-small, soft brush (a children's toothbrush will be fine)
-silica gel system to absorb moisture
2. THE THREE PART HEARING AID MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
A. The Visual Inspection
-check batteries by asking yourself:
*Are the batteries reversed?
*Is the voltage .2 to .3 volts below what is specified on the package?
*Has the battery been used for at least a 1/2 hour?
*Is there corrosion on the batteries? (ie-a white powdery substance)
-check the earmold and ask yourself:
*Is there a tight fit when it is on the ear?
*Is the sound bore broken or dirty?
*Is it cracked or chipped?
-check the tubing and ask yourself:
*Is the tubing cracked?
*Is the tubing twisted?
*Does the tubing look old and yellow in color?
-check the case and ask yourself:
*Is the case cracked?
*Does the case need cleaned with the soft brush or cloth?
B. The Listening Inspection (Use Stethoscope)
-listen for cracks, pops, or shorts
-listen to see if the switches are operational and can be adjusted appropriately
-listen for a decrease in sound quality
-make sure that the sound "sounds like it should"MATERIALS
Computer
Monitors
Power Point
Models of Hearing Aids
Worksheets
Materials listed in the Hearing Aid Maintenance notesSITES TO VISIT
Aids and Equipment
Are All Hearing Aids the Same? Styles of Hearing Aids
ASHA: How to Buy a Hearing Aid
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