Hearing through our teeth… yes you read that right.
Posted in Hearing on May 28, 2010
I have received a request to blog on this new technology, expected to receive FDA clearance in the next few months.
Yes we hear wonderfully without the use of our ears. The cochlea, often referred to as the organ of hearing, is encased within the skull, so movement of the skull passes sound to the organ effortlessly.
Now as new as this concept seems...in 1812 there was documented use of the teeth for amplification--granted not as small or user friendly--but for almost 200 years we have had the knowledge that it can be done. A comprehensive assessment of hearing also uses bone conduction to differentiate organ change from middle ear concerns.
"1812 ~ Jean Marie Gaspard Itard (1773-1838), a French military surgeon turned otologist, develops a bone conduction hearing device. The speaker held the narrow end of a wooden rod between his teeth and the listener held the broader end against his teeth."
For any of you history geeks like me out there!
We will be watching this technology develop, as we do offer the BAHA-or surgically assisted placement of a bone anchored device for hearing in those with single sided deafness as well as those with middle ear pathology. A question yet to be answered in that which I have been able to find is the long term affects of rapid vibrations being carried up the root of the tooth through the jaw to the skull. While we look into this further please let me know your questions!
Bye the way parents: my two and a half year old daughter has a toothbrush that plays a song which is heard when she is using enough pressure to actually do the job cleaning. Great tool for all of those parents out there. Again using bone conduction, and at Walgreens!
To read the article about this please see: http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2010-05/invention-awards-hearing-aid-conducts-sound-through-your-bones
Michelle Batson, AuD
Doctor of Audiology