Early hearing aids and ear trumpets

Early hearing aids were often simple "ear trumpets" designed to funnel sound to the ear over a larger area to amplify the sound. But the users of hearing aids have always been concerned about the cosmetic side effects of their devices. The wonderful Becker Collection pages describe a variety of ingenious ways of trying to conceal hearing aids and ear trumpets, among them the chair of King John VI of Portugal shown here and mentioned in Chapter 8.1 of "Auditory Neuroscience." 

 

 

The Becker Collection also shows ear trumpets designed to be disguised as flower vases, to be concealed in a hat, or a walking cane, or under a bushy beard.