Resumo

BENTO, Ricardo Ferreira  e  PENTEADO, Silvio Pires. Performance evaluation of the digital retroauricular model sonar amplifying device of minimal specifications. BIS, Bol. Inst. Saúde (Impr.) [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.1, pp. 53-59. ISSN 1518-1812.

The treatment of neurosensorial dysacusis is based on the use of the individual sonar amplifier, known as the acoustic auditive prosthesis. In 2004, the Brazilian government implemented a national program of hearing health, distributing hearing prosthesis free through the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Such products are imported, projected primarily for retail patients, having financial resources distinct from the patients who attempt to receive government donations. On reaching the end of the warranty period the patients who received the donations find themselves in financial difficulties to keep them running, and normally abandon them. The supply chain of the international manufacturers of hearing prostheses and, by means of trials, a digital retroauricular was obtained, developed starting from standard components with a low assembly cost. Several units were assembled and tested on patients using the hearing prosthetics donated by the government. The patients showed levels of satisfaction close to those observed with the imported products, but with a lower power consumption of batteries. It was concluded that it is possible to develop digital hearing prostheses with a retroauricular design, assembled from standard components with advantages of low acquisition cost (advantages for the government) and low maintenance cost (advantages for the patient).

Palavras-chave : Hearing loss; hearing prosthetics; public health administration.