A Brief History of Hearing Loss

A Brief History of Hearing Loss

In Hearing Health, Hearing Loss by Dr. Jason Leyendecker

Dr. Jason Leyendecker
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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 466 million people or about 5.5% of the population suffers from some degree of hearing loss. While this number is estimated to rise due to increase in population and more exposure to loud noises, among other factors hearing loss is not a new issue for humans. One of the greatest factors is that in the past our life expectancy was much shorter. Only about 100 years ago our life expectancy was 60 years old and now it averages at 78. Many people don’t begin to experience issues with hearing until 65 which greatly increases the number of people dealing with hearing impairment these days.  Even so, we have dealt with hearing loss since we have had the potential to hear. Let us explore early artifacts that inform us of how our ancestors lived and treated hearing issues throughout history to get us to this point in hearing technology.

“Ear-That-Hears-Badly”

The earliest written document historians have uncovered which discusses hearing loss dates back to ancient Egypt, which spanned from 3100 BC to 320 BC. The document was recorded in an ancient medical journal called the Ebers Papyrus and discussed a remedy for the “Ear-that-hears-badly. The remedy described a concoction of olive oil, red lead, ant eggs, bat wings and goat urine which was to be inserted into the ears. The effects of the treatment may not have been successful, however olive oil is still used as a at home remedy for clearing a minor amount of earwax in the ear canal.

Sign Language Used by 10th Century Monks

Further discussion of hearing loss surfaces in the 10th century in which the writing of Plato describes Cluniac sign language used by monks who were sworn to silence in Burgundy. People describe this early sign language as it ‘would have been sufficient if they lost the use of their tongues’. It is believed that this early sign language helped inform Ponce de Leon’s manual alphabet (finger-spelling) developed at the first school for the deaf in the mid-1500’s.

Early Hearing Aids

The first hearing aids were known as ear trumpets. These funnels were placed near the ear in order to capture sound for the hard of hearing in the 17th century. However, it was not for nearly a century before ear trumpets were made available to the general public. Commercial production of the ear trumpet began in London in factories and were individually fitted for each patient.

Electronic Hearing Aids

The invention of the telephone created the opportunity to use this technology in the world’s first hearing aids. The first commercial electronically amplified hearing aids were produced in 1913 by the Siemens company, who still manufactures hearing aids today.

Miniaturization, World War II, and the Transistor

As the 20th century continued innovations in hearing aid technology started to improve at a faster speed than the previous 100 years before that. This may have been in part due to the need for smaller, portable electronics to aid in World War II. This propelled the availability of hearing aids which were smaller, lighter and more durable using transistor technology developed by the invention of transistors in 1947. The transistors were smaller and used less battery power than the previous technology, which was vacuum tubes.

Microprocessors, Digital Technology, and the Hearing Aid

The next major development in hearing aids did not come about until the 1970s with the invention of the microprocessor. A microprocessor is described as a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit. This means that a much smaller piece of technology can create much more power and precise amplification. By 1982 the City University of New York had developed the first hearing aid using microprocessor technology. It used FM technology to transmit the audio signal to the inner ear, controlled by a microprocessor. 

Hearing Aids Today

It wasn’t until 1995 that the first all-digital hearing aid was developed by Oticon. Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into numerical codes similar to computer codes, then amplify them. Digital technology is still being developed and used in today’s hearing aids; thought the newest features they offer may surprise you. Today’s hearing aids offer multiple settings, noise suppression and even artificial intelligence. Just imagine what hearing aids will offer in 50 years as technology rapidly advances.

If you are ready to experience the life-changing benefits of the latest in hearing aid technology, we’re here to help! Contact us today for a consultation.