Medical School of the Sao Paulo University, Brazil.
Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 May-Jun;76(3):332-9. doi: 10.1590/S1808-86942010000300011.
The treatment of sensorineural hearing loss is based on hearing aids, also known as individual sound amplification devices. The hearing aids purchased by the Brazilian Government, aiming at fulfilling public policies, are based on dedicated components, which bring about benefits, but also render them expensive and may impair repair services after manufacture's warranty expires.
to design digital behind-the-ear hearing aids built from standardized components coming from the very supply chain of these manufacturers.
experimental.
to identify the supply chain of these manufacturers, request samples and set up hearing aids in the laboratory.
The developed hearing aids did not show lesser electroacoustic characteristics when compared to those acquired by the Government, also being tested by the same reference international technical standard.
It is possible to develop digital behind-the-ear hearing aids based on off-the-shelf components from hearing aid manufacturers' supply chain. Their advantages include low operational costs - for acquisition (with clear advantages for the Government) and service (advantage for the patient).
背景：感音神经性听力损失的治疗基于助听器，也称为个体声音放大设备。巴西政府购买的助听器旨在满足公共政策，采用专用组件，带来了好处，但也使它们昂贵，并可能在制造商保修期满后损害维修服务。
目的：设计来自制造商供应链的标准化组件的数字耳背式助听器。
研究设计：实验性。
材料和方法：确定这些制造商的供应链，要求样本并在实验室中设置助听器。
结果：与政府购买的助听器相比，所开发的助听器在电声特性方面没有显示出较差的特性，并且也经过了相同的国际参考技术标准的测试。
结论：可以基于助听器制造商供应链的现成组件开发数字耳背式助听器。其优点包括低成本——采购成本（对政府有明显优势）和服务成本（对患者有利）。
