| You've heard of, and maybe even have used, | | | | in to the off position. |
| disposable contacts and disposable cameras. But | | | | The Songbirddisposable hearing aids had electronic |
| disposable hearing aids? | | | | circuitry equivalent to that in the simplest digital hearing |
| Yes, there really weredisposable hearing aids. | | | | aids, and could be programmed to one of seven |
| Disposable hearing aids were,like disposable contacts | | | | distinct "formulas" by the audiologist treating the patient |
| and disposable cameras, designed to perform like their | | | | who wanted to buy the disposable hearing aids. The |
| permanent counterparts at a fraction of the cost. | | | | seven formulas covered most of the hearing |
| Disposable hearing aids were introduced into the US | | | | impairments experienced by those with mild to |
| market in 2000, by Songbird Inc. | | | | moderate hearing loss. |
| Available in only small, medium, and large sizes, one of | | | | The audiologist would first test the patient to determine |
| the most noticeable drawbacks of Songbird disposable | | | | if he or she were an appropriate candidate for |
| hearing aids was that they could not be custom fitted | | | | Songbird disposable hearing aids. If so, then the patient |
| to their user's ears, and often were uncomfortable to | | | | would have a pair of hearing aids inserted in their ears |
| wear. Each pair was ordered by mail, and arrived at its | | | | and by using a keyboard while listening to conversation |
| user's in a hypoallergenic case, which kept its batteries | | | | and noise, would adjust the hearing aids. They were |
| fresh. The batteries began discharging as soon as the | | | | even encouraged to make the practice disposable |
| case was opened, and lasted about two months | | | | haring aids with them while they went to a nearby |
| when used 12 hours a day. | | | | fast-food restaurant for adjusting. |
| The Technology | | | | Songbird introduced their disposable hearing aids in |
| Songbird disposable hearing aids had four interior | | | | 2000 at a cost of $100 for the initial exam and $79 per |
| components, inlcuding large microphones on their | | | | pair; by 2004 the Songbird 400 was retailing for about |
| faceplates; electronic circuitry; a zinc battery; and a | | | | $120 a pair and lasted for 400 hours. |
| receiver. They were turned on and off with a pull | | | | Songbird disposable hearing aids were removed from |
| string, which was attached to a switch. When their | | | | the US market in November of 2004, and Songbird |
| users used the pull string to remove the disposable | | | | stopped supplying them to the UK in September of |
| hearing aids from their ears, the switch would be pulled | | | | 2006. |