Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley].

  • James Yearsley
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    suffer themselves to he scared away from social inter- course because they cannot participate in conversation with that facility which their more fortunate brethren enjoy. Ifthe deafness has reached that degree which entirely precludes them from hearing what is said, then a well selected trumpet, of just sufficient power to give the necessary degree of tension to the ear, for the appre- ciation of articulate speech, may be resorted to with propriety, unquestionable advantage, and comfort. Care, however, should be taken not to use an instrument of. greater power than is actually required, lest the mem- brane of the tympanum should be overstrained, and its elasticity permanently impaired. It would perhaps be judicious in all deaf persons to take the opinion of an experienced practitioner, before resorting to the use of an ear trumpet, for there are some cases in which it might be attended with serious effects. I have observed, for instance, that for the successful employment of an ear trumpet, it is essential that the membrane of the drum of the ear should be present, or at all events, not entirely disorganized or absent. I have frequently tried the experiment of an ear trumpet in patients in whose cases the disease of the ear had destroyed the membrane of the drum, and in almost every case the trumpet has been either of no service, or communicated so painful a sensation, without appearing to benefit the hearing, as to be quite unbearable. Under such cir- cumstances, persistence in the use of an ear trumpet, in the hope that it might eventually become of service, might set up an irritation or extension of disease diffi- cult to subdue.
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