Cochlear Dead Regions and Implications for Fittings (approved in CA)-Cochlear Dead Regions and Implications for Fittings Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this webinar, the speaker discusses cochlear dead regions and the implications for fitting hearing aids. Cochlear dead regions occur when there is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea, resulting in the loss of specific frequencies. The speaker explains the anatomy and physiology of the cochlea and how cochlear dead regions can affect hearing. They also discuss how to determine if a patient has cochlear dead regions by using the threshold equalizing TEN test. This test involves masking a tone with noise to determine if certain frequencies are affected. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding cochlear dead regions when fitting hearing aids, as amplifying frequencies that the patient cannot hear may not be helpful. They suggest focusing on the transition areas between normal and dead regions to provide the best fitting. The speaker also mentions frequency compression technology as a possible solution for patients with dead regions, where high frequencies are shifted to lower frequencies to improve their audibility. They conclude by saying that not everyone with a cochlear dead region will have the same experience, and it is important to evaluate each patient individually to determine the best course of action.

Keywords

cochlear dead regions

fitting hearing aids

hair cells

cochlea

specific frequencies

threshold equalizing TEN test

amplifying frequencies

transition areas

frequency compression technology

patient evaluation