A Novel Conceptual Design for Hearing Aids : Reduction of the Equipment-Complex of an Auditorily Handicapped Person and Improvement of the Social Recognition of Hearing Aids

摘要

Hearing aids for auditorily handicapped people have been designed and developed with strong importance place on aspects of functionality, such as clearness and miniaturization. Miniaturizatuion has allowed the easy introduction of hearing aids. However, there are still hearing-impaired people who have an equipment-complex because of the social prejudice against the people who wear hearing aids. We hope that in the near future hearing aids will be socially recognized to the same degree as eyeglasses. In order to improve the recognition of hearing aids as well as to reduce the wearer's equipment-complex, we have considered that hearing aids need a variety of appearances regarding such aspects as shape, color and so on. This study designs some novel hearing aids aimed at projecting a pleasant appearance and discusses the necessity of such hearing aids.