REFRAMING HEARING AIDS – EXPLORING THE DESIGN SPACE OF ANALOGUE FASHIONABLE HEARING AIDS FOR USERS WITH MILD HEARING IMPAIRMENTS

Abstract Contemporary digital in ear hearing aids are of significant importance for social participation users with impairments. Through the advancement technology, extreme miniaturisation these devices has been achieved. However, by no means all people who could benefit from a aid actually use one. Cormack and Fortnum state that majority (80%) adults aged 55–74 years would aid, do not them. This is line Arnold Makenzie estimate gap factor 5 between than acquire Even according to statistics Federal Guild Hearing Aid Acousticians Germany, only 3.7 million out 5.4 have an induced loss. article explores design space fashionable analogue contemporary aids.