From: kfree@fatcity.cts.com (Kenneth Freeman)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic,sci.med
Subject: Re: Hearing aids
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 92 07:14:27 PST
Organization: Fat City Software, San Diego, California

gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:

> I know, I know... these may not be appropriate newsgroups, but they
> are the best I could find.  After reading this, if you can suggest
> others groups, PLEASE do so!
> 
> Here's the story: My SO is hard of hearing and has been for most of
> her life.  Recently, she went to two different practitioners, the
> first, a salesman for Miracle Ear and the second, a doctor who
> dispenses hearing aids as needed.
> 
> They both agree on her problem: She has nerve damage that makes it
> difficult for her to hear high frequency sounds.  This is a very
> common pattern for hearing loss.  The damage is nerver damage only,
> ther appears to be no conductive loss.
> 
> This is where they disagree: The Miracle ear guy told her that his
> product can selectively amplify different frequencies.  That is, in
> her case, the low frequencies would not be altered, but the high
> frequencies would be amplified.  This would help compensate for her
> problem.  He "rigged" up his testing machine to simulate how the aids
> would work and my SO reported that the results were amazing.  
> 
> The second doctor told her that in her case, she needed a hearing aid,
> such as the one described above, but that they don't exist!  He said
> that the only type on the market were straight amplifiers, and in her
> case, they'd be useless.  Now, as an engineer, I know that the
> technology for a selectively amplified hearing aid is not difficult.  
> 
> So the question is this: Who's telling the truth?  Do Miracle Ear
> hearing aids work as advertised?  Is the second practitioner correct,
> or is he "jealous" of a technology not available to him?  Any
> information, including personal anecdotes, are welcomed.
> 
> --
> Gerry Roston (gerry@cmu.edu)    | The study of theology, as it stands in the
> Field Robotics Center,          | Christian churches, is the study of
> Carnegie Mellon University      | nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests
> Pittsburgh, PA, 15213           | on no principles; it proceeds by no
> (412) 268-3856                  | authority; it has no data; it can
>                                 | demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no
> The opinions expressed are mine | conclusion.  Thomas Paine
> and do not reflect the official | 
> position of CMU, FRC, RedZone,  | 
> or any other organization.      | 

 
Amazing. I've had profound nerve-deafness since birth. The 
technology does exist to correct such hearing loss; I know,
because the two Phonaks I'm wearing are ideal for me. Your
SO definitely needs a competent audiologist and hearing aid
dispenser; I found a superb professional, one and the same,
after doing some library research. The Phonaks have band-width
and gain controls which, once set, correct my deafness. Good 
luck with your search; let me know how it goes.

-- 
kfree@fatcity.cts.com (Kenneth Freeman)
Fat City Software BBS -- (619) 621-6079
UUCP: ...crash.cts.com!fatcity!kfree  OR  ...telesoft.com!fatcity!kfree
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic