When most people think of hearing, they think of the ear. However,\nthe ear is just one part of the body that helps us hear. The brain also plays\nan important role in the hearing process, and hearing aid technology is\nchanging to focus on the brain rather than the ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hearing Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The hearing process begins with noises traveling from the outer\near, through the middle ear and into the inner ear where the noises cause\nthousands of tiny hair cells to vibrate. These hair cells send electrical\nsignals to the auditory nerve that connects to the brain. After the signal\ntravels through the nerve, it is sent to the brain where it is processed and\ntranslated into sounds that people can recognize and understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When these hair cells are damaged, people experience hearing loss.\nResearch shows untreated hearing loss can reduce the brain\u2019s ability to remain\nstrong and healthy. This may result in cognitive decline among other outcomes\nsuch as social withdrawal and depression. However, hearing aids have shown to decrease\nthis cognitive decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brain Hearing Technology <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Traditional hearing aids take the noise coming into the ear and\namplify it to a level the remaining hair cells can collect. In \u201cSelf-Reported\nHearing Loss: Hearing Aids and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: 25-Year Study,\u201d findings point toward\nimproved communication as the cause for reduced cognitive decline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImproved communication made possible by hearing aids resulted in\nimproved mood, social interaction and cognitively stimulating abilities and is\nthe most likely underlying reason for the decreased cognitive decline reported\nin the study,\u201d Thomas Behrens, MSc, who is the head of Oticon\u2019s Centre for\nApplied Audiology Research said in an Oticon press release regarding the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The newer brain hearing technology takes this idea to the next\nlevel by focusing devices on the brain instead of the ear. Researchers have\nlearned that sound processing actually occurs in the brain and not the ear.\nBrain focused hearing devices work to preserve natural noise quality in speech\nrecognition, spatial recognition, sound filtering and sound focusing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traditional hearing device amplification does not always guarantee\nthe brain will recognize the signal and the brain often works harder to\ncompensate for the absent sound. Focusing on the way the brain processes sound\nsignals prevents the brain from fatigue and being overwhelmed by unnecessary\namplification resulting in improved user satisfaction. Oticon reports user\nsatisfaction for brain focused hearing devices at a 17 percent increase from\ntraditional hearing devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though traditional devices have proven they can positively impact\na person\u2019s quality of life, brain focused aids appear to provide users with a\nbetter hearing experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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