Since the times when your great, great grandpa used one of those ear trumpets to hear, things have changed. Even a decade ago, hearing aids weren’t capable of doing the things they can do now. Activities that were not possible a few years in the past are currently possible because of advancements in hearing aid tech. Hearing aids can now do the following things.
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. When you are physically active, hearing aids can fall out even high quality ones. Now you can to keep your hearing aids in when you’re exercising whether you are a beginner or an athlete.
The change here is not in the technology, however. Hearing aids that fall out can still become broken or lost. Innovation wins out with a straightforward approach: hearing aid retention cords. Consider it a lanyard for your hearing aids. They clip to your clothes and slide on to the hearing aid as a security measure. Hearing aid retention cords area great choice for kids, too.
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 couple of accessories will be necessary if you plan to go swimming with your hearing aid.
Raincoats are available for your hearing aids. Your device is shielded by waterproof sleeves that fit securely over them while still allowing you to hear. Most of the sleeves come with cords that connect to your clothing too, so you won’t lose the hearing aids while enjoying some summer fun.
A dehumidifier is an additional item you may want to invest in. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, some amount of water will get into the case. The unit is dried out by the dehumidifier without causing damage to the sensitive components.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
No more taking the hearing aid out every time your phone rings. However, some brands don’t have this feature. You want to invest in 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.
Interested in streaming a movie? This is another situation where wireless functionality come in handy. With Bluetooth or wireless, the hearing aids can pick up sound from your TV or MP3 player.
Also, for cell phones or landlines, these hearing aids have a phone function. 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, machine learning capabilities are available in many models. Some devices will remember what volume you prefer in different situations and will make the adjustment without you doing a thing, for instance.
You can also just push a button and recall a specific setup stored in one of the numerous programs.
5. Getting Rid of The Ringing
Hearing loss and tinnitus go hand in hand for many people. Hearing aids that include tinnitus maskers or sound generators will play a low-level sound in the background that covers up the ringing, so you hear sounds clearer. The masking sound cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing goes away. Tinnitus masking is a particular feature, though, and not available from all brands. Be sure you ask for it if you are shopping for hearing aids.
6. Store Data
A compelling new function in hearing aids is data logging. Volume changes, when you use the hearing aid, and background noises you come across are examples of things that are logged by these devices.
Crucial adjustments can be made when your audiologist or hearing aid retailer pull up this information enhancing sound quality.
7. Go Remote
You can quickly lower the volume, change the program, or use your hearing aid as a Bluetooth streaming device if you have a remote.
Not all of these features are new, but they all assist you in doing things with your hearing aids that weren’t possible years ago. Hearing aid technology is constantly progressing, too. If you go shopping for new hearing aids, be sure to check out the latest and greatest features. To see them all, make an appointment with a hearing professional today.