Headphones that are awry to the bones

Headphones that are awry to the bones

According to Staab (2012), knowledge of bone conduction hearing dates back to Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576), a physician, mathematician, and philosopher. In the early 1550s, he was an early deaf schoolteacher. Cardano developed a way of transmitting sound to the ear in one of his 230 works, “De Subtilitate,” (1550). Using a rod or the shaft of a spear held between one’s teeth. Bone conduction is one of the first concepts that new audiologists learn while assessing. Their patients since it is part of the information required to make a diagnosis for a hearing problem. It was initially of scholarly interest until Cabrei in 1846 and later Bulwer in 1848 profited on Itard’s 1821 invention of a rod.

Bone conduction has had some sporadic usage in deaf education and. Some success with deaf hearing aids, notably for problems involving the middle ear. But its use was somewhat burdensome since it might cause frequent headaches and. Other troubles to the person who was the receiver of its use.

While bone conduction has been known to experts such as otolaryngologists, audiologists, and others for some time, it has only been in. The last 20 years or so that. It has been considered as a feasible approach for implantation of amplification. Implants based on bone conduction hearing, such as. The Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), the Sophono, Bone Bridge, Sound bite, and others, are now available as an alternative to cochlear implants, standard hearing aids, and other treatment options.

Earbuds vs. Bone Conduction Headsets:

Which Is the Better Option?

Although bone conduction has long been used in audiology, otolaryngology, and other hearing circles. It has only lately entered the electronics industry as a concept for military communication gear and consumer electronic items. Bone conduction headphones, unlike earbuds or other forms of air conduction headphones, do not block out ambient sounds. Users can hear what is happening around them while listening to music, exercising, or doing other activities since they do not seal the ear canal. Navy SEAL teams and other military, SWAT teams, and other police apps can communicate while remaining aware of what is going on around them during missions. These gadgets are low in weight and well-ventilated, yet they are also sturdy and customizable. They are worn around the back of the head and have volume controls as well as. Other capabilities, making them full-featured headsets.  It does not isolate the user from the surroundings.

There appear to be two varieties of these products:

Those employed for tactical military activities such as combat or police reasons, with prices ranging from $225 to 850 US dollars; and the more cheap variety for the rest of us, with prices ranging from $20 to $150 US dollars. The latter is utilized for pleasure, business, sports. And learning, and some hearing challenged people may be able to use them as well (those with conductive or mixed hearing losses). The gadgets can link to almost any Smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device. Some of these headsets even come with earplugs to help you block out outside noises and enjoy a better (likely more intense) sound from the headset.

What Are Bone Conduction Headphones and How Do They Work?

Sound flows from the skull bones to the inner ear through bone conduction. When you talk, bone conduction occurs. Which explains why your voice sounds somewhat higher-pitched when you listen to yourself on tape. When bone conduction is used alone. It produces a richer, fuller sound, and your voice sounds deeper. When it is not blended with sound from the ear canal. Audiologists understand that sound travels in waves and that when it reaches the eardrum; it is converted into a sequence of mechanical vibrations. When sound enters the ear, the pinna directs it into the auditory canal and then to the eardrum, which vibrates sympathetically in response to the sound. The three auditory ossicles, which vibrate into the cochlea, transmit these vibrations. Air conduction hearing is the term for this.

Bone conduction hearing skips everything and sends vibrations straight to the cochlea through. The bone, essentially freeing the ear canal and eardrums to listen to other things. Because it appears to generate a better, more constant signal, almost all bone conduction headphone makers employ. A jaw bone location for the stimulus rather than the typical mastoid stimulus usually used for audiometry.