Although I have complained previously about technology becoming too complicated in regards to my mic system and then with all the trouble I've had with my digital hearing aid (though that's mostly the fault of the incompetent audiologists I've dealt with), the fact is it is a lot easier to have conditions like TCS now than in the past. Hearing loss being one of the main symptoms of TCS is one example, obviously the technology for hearing aids has only been about for so long. Before they were invented people had to use ear trumpets which were obviously not great as you have to hold them up all the time and they require ear canals which people with TCS may not have like me.
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| "Did you hear the one about...?" |
Then of course as with anything, when hearing aids were first invented they were probably big and awkward and nowhere near as good as they are nowadays. In my lifetime there has been a real progression in terms of design and sound quality. This also applies to my mic system as when I first started using it, the teacher had their box with the mic and I had my box which was connected to my hearing aid by a wire and now it is like a mini computer which can be muted and with which multiple systems can be used without interfering with one another (which on a few occasions happened at school with the old system if someone else had a system as well). and which is wireless. Of course now the big thing seems to be bone anchored hearing aids which I've spoken a bit about before. But even with them the technology is progressing all the time with new under the skin implants being released recently. At some point I will post an update showing all the equipment that I use and have some comparison pictures of any old equipment I have.
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| Comparison between under the skin implants and abutment bone anchored hearing aid sites |
Whilst it may not be nice we also have to consider the other problems apart from hearing loss, it's a pretty safe assumption that in the past, due to the poorer quality of medical care that a lot more people with TCS did not survive especially as babies. Also there is the issue of people misunderstanding the condition (thinking that the child is cursed or whatever) or not being able to look after a child with TCS especially one with a more severe case. The worrying thing is that in many developing countries there still may be some misconceptions and kids with TCS might be abandoned or left to die because people don't know what it is and haven't been educated about it. Of course this is all speculation but it is something that needs to be considered.
Thanks for reading.
