New dental hearing aid gets the green light
A new hearing device, which works by transmitting sound through the teeth, has been given the green light in Europe.
The SoundBite device transmits sound through the jawbone and directs it into the inner ear; it can be fitted onto the upper left or right molars and each device is custom-made for the individual patient.
Unlike conventional hearing aids, which use air conduction to amplify the sound, the SoundBite device uses bone conduction. A network of tiny microphones behind the ear pick up sound and this is then transmitted wirelessly to the prosthetic device in the mouth. The prosthetic device sends the signals through the teeth and bones to the cochlea; this mean the sound is sent directly to the inner ear, rather than travelling through the outer and middle ear. The device enables people who are deaf in one ear to hear in stereo.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People has warned that the new hearing device may not be suitable for everyone with hearing problems. Angela King, scientific adviser to the RNID said that there were no guarantees that the SoundBite device would be popular in the UK. She said that the device doesn’t look comfortable and claimed that people may be put off by having to wear something behind their ear, in the same way that many people avoid wearing conventional hearing aids.
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Hi
I am interesting to get information about dental hearing aid. Could you please give information where I can try this product in Australia?
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