How to Make a Hearing Aid

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This DIY hearing aid won't take you more than a few hours to build once you have the parts.
This DIY hearing aid won't take you more than a few hours to build once you have the parts.
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The effects of sound intensity and frequency on hearing perception.
The effects of sound intensity and frequency on hearing perception.
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Hearing Aid Schematic
Hearing Aid Schematic
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Parts list. In this and other articles, the use of part numbers for Radio Shack or other companies is not intended, by either the author or MOTHER, as an endorsement.
Parts list. In this and other articles, the use of part numbers for Radio Shack or other companies is not intended, by either the author or MOTHER, as an endorsement.
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Parts layout
Parts layout

Most of us will no doubt agree that hearing and sight are our two most precious senses … so when something goes awry with either, our lives are deeply affected. Indeed, if it becomes severe enough, an impairment of sight or hearing can become a serious disability. You might be surprised to learn, though, that hearing impairment is by far the more prevalent of the two. There are 16,000,000 people in the U.S. alone with admitted deafness … and an estimated 16,000,000 more who have a hearing disorder but are unaware of the problem!

In many cases, the hearing impaired can be helped by a device that makes sound louder: a hearing aid. Hearing aids are, in the most general sense, electronic amplifiers that boost sound level to the point where people who are hard of hearing can understand what’s being said. It’s estimated that about half of all people suffering hearing disorders can gain at least some relief through the use of a hearing aid.

Unfortunately, such devices don’t come cheap: It’s not unheard-of for certain designs to run into the thousands of dollars. To many of you, that may seem like an awful lot of money to pay for a small amplifier. Well, MOTHER and I agree — to a point — so we’ve gotten together to show you how to make a hearing aid … one that can be built almost entirely from parts available at a local Radio Shack for less than $30. Before you get involved in this project, though, you need to know if you can actually benefit from using an amplifier.

Hearing Disorders: How Hearing Loss Works

  • Published on Mar 1, 1985
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