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From: Wayne.Roorda@f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Wayne Roorda)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Digital Hearing Aids
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Date: 18 Oct 90 03:42:15 GMT
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Index Number: 11174

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi Jack,

    JO> The real tragedy is the dispensers' resistance to
    JO> true digital signal processing aids.  The one attempt
    JO> at this (Nicolet's Phoenix) appears to be defunct.
    JO> All because dealers would need to make a modest
    JO> investment in new fitting equipment.  This after
    JO> the findings that digital signal processing can enhance
    JO> the clarity of the speech signal and discrimination in
    JO> many difficult situations.

 From what I've heard the "modest investment" isn't exactly that
modest.  I'm not sure how much $$ would be required but I've heard
figures of $20,000+.  But I think the biggest drawback was that
the manufacturers couldn't agree on any standard(s) and that each
one would have their own form of fitting equipment.  Therefore an
investment would have to be made for each manufacturer.

    JO> The manufacturers marketing efforts are targeted
    JO> solely at the dealers, not the end users of their
    JO> products.

But that is changing, I think because of the input the manufacturers
are receiving from SHHH members.

    JO> The hearing aid industry is the last surviving
    JO> enclave of obsolete analog audio technology,
    JO> in a universe that has long since recognized the
    JO> advantages digital signal processing.

True enough, but I wonder if they could filter out the EM noise
from these CRT's while one is trying to use the T-coil on the
telephone?  And also the radar noise I pick up from the sites
that have replaced the old SAGE equipment, not to mention the
shrill noise I pick up in the entrances of some banks.

                                        Wayne

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