Feedback in hearing aids, the loud and annoying howling sound that can be heard by bystanders, has always been one of the most bothersome issues faced by hearing aid wearers. Back when hearing aids were made with analog integrated circuits, and even in the early days of digital, feedback had to be managed by lowering the overall gain of the hearing aid (limiting fit rates) or by adjusting the frequency response of the device by inserting a notch filter at the feedback frequency to reduce the gain in that area. Unfortunately, this had the detrimental effect of also lowering the gain in those frequencies of the sounds the hearing aid wear wanted to hear.
For diabetes patients, treatment is not easy. Diabetes requires diligent, ongoing monitoring and maintenance to maintain stable blood sugar levels. This is can be difficult to do as most diabetics manage this with manual insulin injection and blood glucose monitoring (BGM) by sampling blood at their fingertips several times a day. Blood sugar levels can vary wildly through the day depending on food consumption, timing, and exercise. Even if a patient samples their blood sugars up to eight times through the day, there is still room for dangerous fluctuations between measurements which the patient may be unaware of. These fluctuations can exacerbate acute or chronic complications of diabetes, many of which are life-threatening.
As the “baby boomer” generation ages and generally requires more medical care, the industry is becoming more reliant on alternative measures to treat patients. This - along with an increased interest in fitness and wellness - has necessitated more affordable, portable options. By using portable devices patients can be monitored and treated without the inconvenience of having to frequently visit hospitals and clinics. Examples include hearing aids, activity monitors used as part of a weight reduction management program, medicinal monitors for people requiring ongoing treatment, and transdermal drug distribution patches used as part of pain management therapy.
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