Ear Inserts—General Information
Almost since the beginning of the first hearing devices appearing, there have been attempts to miniaturize these devices. Most of these attempts with acoustical aids were
largely unsuccessful.
Ear inserts of various types were attempts to produce some
improvement in hearing while keeping the devices hidden or invisible.
These came
in many forms and were labeled "pinna inserts," "earwells," "ear cornets," "cup anatomicals," etc. Unfortunately, most of them were of little use in improving
hearing, or were even considered outright fraudulent.
There were also patented
devices, such as, Vibraphones, Electraphones, Radium Ear, etc.
In some cases
they may have been of help in opening up a collapsed ear canal, but even
assuming some change in resonance due to their size, they did little to enhance
sound for someone with a hearing loss.
These types of devices have been around
since the early 1800s and have appeared right up to the mid 1930s.
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Example of Ear Inserts
Click on the "Non-Electric" button
(on
the
left), then on "Ear Inserts" to see the details of these and
other ear inserts. |
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Click the above button to see general information on the previous category of
non-electric hearing aids. |
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