140 Chapter 5 wireless connection as well as facilitate ease of use of modern technology such as mobile phones and computers has made them more attractive to children who can be very selfaware. Improving these aspects of BCHD makes them more desirable to children and helps them to engage with and take ownership of the decision-making process. Safety is also an important consideration. Battery ingestion is a very significant risk and so battery compartment doors must be lockable to prevent accidental ingestion of button batteries. The adhesive ADHEAR has recently introduced this to the product enabling younger children to benefit from its use however prior to this change there were limitation in providing such aid to young children because of these safety concerns. Rechargeable batteries would resolve this issue entirely as there would be no need for a door and with the associated significant improvement in reducing cost and environmental impact this should be applied across all BAHD’s. As processor and rechargeable battery technology continues to reduce is size and weight over time, the overall footprint of available devices continues to decrease proportionately. From an aesthetic point of view, this will further improve the acceptance of children as they can more easily camouflage their devices should they wish. Innovations in water resistance options for BCHD are yet unexplored in the medical technology sector but would likely offer a significant positive impact if developed. Currently there are barriers for children with additional hearing needs in undertaking water sports and recreational swimming. It is currently necessary for children to remove their aid completely during this activity. This is not ideal, especially during swimming lessons. Children need to be able to hear clear instruction while undertaking swimming lessons in an acoustically challenging and particularly noisy environment. This has an impact on both learning and safety. Water resistance is now widely available for mobile phones and headphones in the recreational setting and therefore this would be an excellent opportunity for development in the hearing aids of the future. Core Principle 5 – Direct bone stimulation. The best audiological outcomes are gained through direct contact of a vibrating processor with the skull, and that the fitting range is determined by the maximum output. Percutaneous and active transcutaneous BCHDs have significant audiological benefit over softband mountings, ADHEAR and passive devices, as they do not need to overcome the attenuation caused by the overlying skin and soft tissues. Overall, the best audiological results are seen in percutaneous and active transcutaneous systems, with the highest maximal output.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw