Since the times when your great, great grandfather used one of those ear trumpets to hear, things have changed. Modern hearing aids are able to do so much more than these devices could do even ten years ago. Activities that were not possible a few years in the past are currently possible due to innovations in hearing aid tech. Just think about these seven things hearing aids are currently able to do.
1. Stay Put Even When You are Moving
Jogging or riding a bike with a hearing aid in would have been unheard of in the past. Even top quality hearing aids are subject to damage if they fall out while you are exercising. These days whether you are an athlete or novice you can exercise while wearing your hearing aids.
However, the evolution is not only in the technology. Hearing aids that fall out can still get broken or lost. Innovation wins out with a straightforward concept: hearing aid retention cords. It’s kind of like putting your hearing aids on a lanyard. They slide on to the devices and then clip to your clothes for safety. Kids will also benefit from hearing aid retention cords.
2. Resist Water
Most hearing aids don’t do well when fully submerged despite the fact that they are water resistant. Waterproof hearing aids and a few accessories will be needed if you want to go swimming with your hearing aid.
Begin with a protective covering for your hearing aids. Waterproof Sleeves fit tightly over the devices to protect them from water damage while still allowing you to hear. Many of the sleeves come with cords that attach to your clothing too, so you won’t lose the hearing aids while enjoying some summer activities.
A dehumidifier is an additional item you may want to get. No matter how careful you are, some amount of water is going to get into the case. The dehumidifier dries the units out without damaging their fragile electronic components.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
No more having to remove your hearing aid when your phone rings. However, certain brands don’t have this feature. Wireless streaming capability and Bluetooth enabling are features you will want to think about when purchasing new hearing aids. This technology allows them to pair with your phone the same way Bluetooth earbuds or headphones do.
Want to stream a movie? Wireless is useful in this situation, too. With Bluetooth or wireless, the hearing aids can pick up sound from your TV or MP3 player.
Most hearing aids come with a telephone adaptation, also, that works for cell phones or landlines. Telephone adaptation makes use of a telecoil to receive signals from the phones so you can hear them through your hearing aids.
4. Learn
That’s correct, hearing aids have machine learning features. Some devices will make volume adjustments depending on the environment by remembering your preference and you don’t need to do anything.
You can also just press a button and load a particular setup stored in one of the multiple programs.
5. Getting Rid of The Ringing
Loss of hearing and tinnitus are closely linked for lots of people. You will hear sounds more clearly because your hearing aid can produce tinnitus masking noises. The masking noise cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing stops. Tinnitus masking is a specific feature, though, and not available from all brands. Make sure you ask for it if you are shopping for hearing aids.
6. Store Data
Data logging is one of the newer functions in hearing aid technology but a powerful one. Volume adjustments, when you use the hearing aid, and background noises you encounter are examples of things that are logged by these devices.
The benefit is your audiologist or hearing aid retailer can pull up this data to make crucial adjustments to the devices to improve their sound or give you information to go on when buying new hearing aids.
7. Go Remote
Hearing aids that come with remotes let you to quickly change programs, lower the volume or even act as a Bluetooth streaming device.
Not all of these functions are new, but they all assist you in doing things with your hearing aids that were impossible years ago. Hearing aid technology is constantly advancing, too. If you’re buying new hearing aids, be sure to check out the latest and greatest features. To see them all, schedule an appointment with a hearing professional right away.
