Things are different since your great, great grandfather held an ear trumpet up to his ear. Even 10 years ago, hearing aids weren’t capable of doing the things they can do today. The advancement of hearing aid tech permits users to participate in activities that seemed unlikely at one point. Hearing aids can now do the following things.
1. Prevent Accidental Damage While Exercising
Jogging or riding a bike while wearing a hearing aid would have been risky in the past. When you are physically active, hearing aids can fall out and that even goes for high quality devices. Nowadays whether you are an athlete or novice you can exercise while wearing your hearing aids.
However, the change is not just in the technology. Hearing aids that fall out can still get broken or lost. Innovation wins out with a straightforward idea: hearing aid retention cords. Consider it a lanyard for your hearing aids. They clip to your clothes and connect to the hearing aid as a safety measure. Kids will also benefit from hearing aid retention cords.
2. Resist Water
While it is true most hearing aids are resistant to water, they still won’t do well when fully immersed. Waterproof hearing aids and a couple of accessories will be necessary if you want to swim with your hearing aid.
Protective coverings are available for your hearing aids. Waterproof Sleeves fit tightly over the devices to protect them from water damage while still allowing you to hear. The majority of the sleeves come with cords that attach to your clothing too, so you don’t lose the hearing aids while enjoying some summer activities.
Another thing you might want to invest in is a dehumidifier for your hearing aids. Some water will get inside the case no matter what you do. The dehumidifier dries the devices out without damaging their fragile electronic parts.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you don’t have to take your hearing aids out. However, some brands don’t have this feature. You want to purchase hearing aids that are Bluetooth-enabled or come with the wireless streaming capability. The same way that earbuds or headphones use Bluetooth to connect to your phone, these type of hearing aids also do that.
Want to stream a movie? This is another case where wireless capabilities are useful. Sound from your MP3 player or TV can be picked up by a hearing aid that is equipped with Bluetooth technology.
Also, for cell phones or landlines, these hearing aids have a phone function. Telephone adaptation uses a telecoil to receive signals from the phones so you can hear them through your hearing aids.
4. Learn
That’s correct, machine learning capabilities are available in many models. Some devices can remember what volume you prefer in different settings and will make the adjustment without you doing a thing, for instance.
They can also include multiple programs so you can store a specific setup in the memory and push a button to recall it when the time is right.
5. Make the Ringing Go Away
Hearing loss and tinnitus are closely linked for many people. Hearing aids which include tinnitus maskers or sound generators will play a low-level sound in the background that masks the ringing, so you hear sounds clearer. The masking sound cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing goes away. Not all brands include this tinnitus masking tech. If you are shopping for hearing aids, and need this function, you will need to ask for it.
6. Store Data
Data logging is one of the newer features in hearing aid technology but a powerful one. The devices log things like when you use the hearing aids, times you make volume changes and what background noises you encounter.
The benefit is your audiologist or hearing aid retailer can use this data to make crucial modifications to the devices to enhance their sound or give you information to go on when buying new hearing aids.
7. Go Remote
You can quickly lower the volume, change the program, or use your hearing aid as a Bluetooth streaming device if it comes with a remote.
Not all of these functions are new, but they all let you do things with your hearing aids that weren’t possible years ago. Also, advancements in hearing aid technology are always being made. Be certain to check out the latest features when you go shopping for a new hearing aid. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional to see them all.
