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Horn shaped ear trumpet.
Full view, black perspex background with reflection.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Horn shaped ear trumpet
Hearing aids of varying designs have been used since the 1500s to help people who are hard of hearing. This polished piece of hollow horn was an ingenious hearing trumpet. The tip is inserted into the ear canal. The natural shape of the horn acts as a trumpet. It ‘catches’ and amplifies sound to the ear drum. The effectiveness of the horn as a hearing aid is unknown. However, it was a novel and economical response to a common problem.
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