Macro-audiology and Hearing Aids Richard Bishop Macro-audiology is a model for whole-person hearing that has proved very useful in clinical use. In this context, hearing is regarded as a behaviour mediated by the function of the auditory system and which occupies a continuum from "normal" to "abnormal". This "top-down" approach provides a powerful framework for the provision of hearing aids, where the goal can be stated as normalising hearing behaviour as much as possible. This paper presents an approach to the problem of hearing aid tuning which is based on the principles of macro-audiology, emphasising the critical role of the patient. It presents a brief challenge to accepted concepts of auditory normality. Included is a brief discussion of the occlusion effect and its importance in attaining the goals of "comfort and forgettability". This approach allows a highly practical method of setting goals and assessing progress, which is determined by the critically involved patient, who is encouraged to actively participate throughout the process. |