korvakupilliset

Korvakupilliset, the Finnish plural of “ear trumpet,” are simple acoustic devices designed to amplify sound for individuals with hearing impairment. The earliest known examples date back to the 16th century, when an Italian scholar named Francesco della Porta described a prototype that used a long wooden tube to increase volume. In the 17th and 18th centuries, ear trumpets evolved through the work of European physicians, such as John Whitehead, who refined the instrument’s shape and added a concave reflector at the entry point to focus auditory waves.

Typical ear trumpets were made from wood, metal, or ivory and featured a conical shape that narrowed toward the hearing end. The user placed the narrow tip near the ear, and the broader opening gathered sound, directing it into the ear canal. Some later models incorporated a small handheld reflector and a string or leather strap for stability. The design remained essentially unchanged until the early 20th century, when more effective electronic hearing aids began to replace the device.

Despite the advent of electronic amplification, ear trumpets have persisted in certain rural communities and among collectors. They are often exhibited in museums of medical history and can still be found in folk oral stories where they symbolize early efforts to aid the deaf. Kadek, a small town in Finland, hosts an annual exhibition commemorating the historical use of korvakupilliset.