Madiha Yaqoob
Devices for addressing hearing loss have been available for quite some time. Some archaeologists believe that in ancient times, people used animal horns to amplify sounds and direct them into the ear canal. By the 1600s, ear trumpets had been developed. Those devices served the same purpose as hollowed-out animal horns. Over the next two centuries, improvements were made to them to make them more portable and less bulky.
It wasn’t until the 1900s that electric hearing aids were invented. Early versions of those were large, cumbersome, and minimally effective. As recently as a few decades ago, hearing aids consisted of behind-the-ear devices connected with wires to boxes that held amplifiers and other components. They also required external microphones for people to speak into so the wearer could hear them clearly. Fortunately, great strides have been made in hearing aid technology since then, and modern versions of these devices offer numerous benefits.
Bluetooth Capabilities
These days, it’s not uncommon to find hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity. They connect to smartphones, allowing users to listen to music and watch videos on their phones. They also help make phone conversations clearer. Of course, these hearing aids aren’t just for use with smartphones. They can connect to virtually any Bluetooth-capable device, including televisions and vehicles’ infotainment systems. When they’re not connected to other devices, these hearing aids still function like their conventional counterparts to help people hear the world around them.
Smartphone Apps
Many of today’s hearing aids have accompanying smartphone apps as well. People who are living with hearing loss can use those apps to check the battery life of their hearing aids as well as their functionality. They can also use them to adjust their settings and even to help them find their hearing aids if they lose or misplace them. On top of that, they can use their apps to communicate with the hearing aid manufacturer or their audiologist.
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are yet another advancement in hearing aid technology. Not very long ago, hearing aids relied on button cell batteries that had to be replaced every two weeks or so. Some had to be replaced every few days. Though some hearing aids still require those batteries, many are now rechargeable. That means their users no longer have to worry about remembering to keep batteries on hand or going through the hassles of replacing their batteries. Now, keeping hearing aids working properly is as simple as charging a phone.
AI Integration
Artificial intelligence is being integrated into some of the most advanced modern hearing aids. That enables the hearing aids to automatically adjust to different situations and more effectively distinguish background noise from other sounds. AI is also being used to customize people’s hearing aids to their unique needs. Some hearing aids even have built-in health tracking capabilities. They can keep track of how many steps users take each day and monitor for falls along with many other capabilities.
Taking Advantage of Today’s Hearing Aid Technology
As is the case with many devices, hearing aids have grown more complex over time while also getting more compact. Today’s models are far less awkward than those of just a few decades ago, but they’re also much more effective. Several styles are now available as well, including behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, and in-the-canal hearing aids. From the simple convenience of rechargeable batteries to AI integration and Bluetooth connectivity, modern hearing aids offer a range of advantages over their predecessors
