The role of hearing aids in providing environmental feedback for the profoundly hearing impaired

A number of studies have brought out the limitations of hearing aids in the rehabilitation of hearing impaired. This study was undertaken to assess the use of hearing aids in improving the ability of the hearing impaired to hear vehicular horns. The students of a school for the hearing impaired were interviewed with the help of their teachers. Out of total 102 study subjects, 47 (46%) said that they drove vehicles. None of them used hearing aid while driving vehicles. However, 56 (55%) students possessed functional box type hearing aids. Their ability to hear the sound of vehicular horns with and without hearing aids in the presence of background noise under experimental set up was assessed. None of the 36 study subjects could hear the horns (< 85 dB and > 85 dB) without hearing aid. Only 5 (16.6%) of the 30 profoundly hearing impaired students could hear the sound of horns (> 85 dB) with the hearing aid. The hearing aid was found to be more beneficial to subjects with severe hearing impairment. There is a need to bring forth newer and better varieties of hearing aids and other technologies e.g. Cochlear implant within the reach of those in need.