HC Deb 06 November 1947 vol 443 c227W
47. Mr. Erroll

asked the Lord President of the Council how many prototypes of the two-piece deaf aid now being manufactured for free supply to the deaf were produced; how many were tried out on deaf persons, and for what periods of time; and if these persons were given an opportunity of comparing the Government deaf aid with the best types of deaf aid currently available.

Mr. H. Morrison

For the final tests, four working models were made of the hearing aid designed by the Electro-Acoustics Committee of the Medical Research Council. These models were tested at clinics in London and Manchester on 27 persons with various degrees of deafness and well practised in the use of aids. The individual tests of the aid lasted about three hours. Comparison was made in each case with the patient's own previously prescribed aid, and also with a highly recommended American instrument. Twenty of the patients heard best with the new aid, and three others equally well. All the subjects commented on the new aid's exceptionally good reproduction of speech and preferred it on that account.