The use of laser in medical sciences has been on the up and up. Nowadays, medical professionals apply laser technology in many areas including cancer treatments, cosmetics, eye surgery, and many other surgical procedures. They have done so very successfully, so it’s great to see that the FDA has approved the marketing of a new laser hearing aid. In this article, we bring you everything you need to know about laser hearing aids.
How Do Laser Hearing Aids Work?
Developed EarLens, a California-based company, laser hearing aids feature two new components, a light-based sound processor and a (TMT) tympanic membrane transduce. While the TMT goes into the ear canal, the sound processor is placed behind the ear.
Like conventional hearing aids, the device still combines a digital signal and a microphone to collect sound. But that sound is then converted into infrared light. After traveling to the devices TMT, the light turns into vibrations that the eardrum can then detect, and the wearer can hear.
In that way, the eardrum acts like a speaker and amplifies across more frequencies. This can produce a significant improvement for certain hearing-impaired people.
Who Is the Laser Hearing Aid Suitable for?
In our “everything you need to know about laser hearing aids- piece” you’ll also want to find out who this new device is suitable for.
So far, the FDA has only approved it for people with sensorineural hearing loss but that may change over time. What’s more, sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type.
Final Thoughts
No doubt, using laser technology in hearing aids has emerged as a great option. Experts agree that this technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of hearing-impaired people.
Speak to your physician to discuss if a laser hearing aid could work for you.
