Hearing aids have gone through quite a few iterations in their 200-plus year history. The technology that is used in hearing aids has historically been developed because of a dedicated scientist who is either impacted by hearing loss or has a loved one impacted by hearing loss. As an example, Alexander Graham Bell’s mother had significant hearing loss and his wife was deaf.
Here are 10 other little-known facts about hearing aids:
1. Hearing aids can be synced up with wireless devices through state of the art technology like Bluetooth, so users are able to enjoy direct signals from their smart phone, MP3 player, TV, and other electronic products.
2. Hearing aids are not one size fits all – the fact is, they can and should be programmable. This means they have the potential to recall the most comfortable settings for the user, often adjusting in real time to the surrounding environment.
3. Digital hearing aids – a recent advancement — have considerably lessened the prevalence of agitating feedback, echoes, and background noises. These were par for the course as part of previous technologies, and they made paying attention much more difficult.
4. Hearing aids have the capacity for enhancing and clarifying sound, in combination with rendering it louder for the user.
5. When used in conjunction with special induction or hearing loops, hearing aid users can more clearly hear notifications in public locations, meetings, airports, stadiums, and other populated areas. This technology enhances sounds and eliminates all the background noise.
6. Hearing aids were once only manufactured in beige and similar colors to fit in with people’s skin color, so that they were not easily identifiable. Today, users are welcoming their hearing aid technology, wearing a range of colors and patterns to showcase their devices and attract attention in a crowd.
7. In the same vein, hearing aids are smaller in size than ever before. They used to be massive, cumbersome gadgets that weighed several pounds and didn’t really do much to amplify sound. Today, they only weigh a few ounces and provide superior sound quality.
8. Today, you can pick up water resistant and waterproof hearing aids to better fit in with your lifestyle. Water resistant hearing aids can withstand low levels of humidity and moisture, while waterproof hearing aids can withstand higher levels of moisture during showering and even swimming.
9. Instead of having to frequently replace the batteries in hearing aids, many are now made with rechargeable technology to cut down on upkeep costs.
10. Hearing aids do much more than amplify sound – they can also contain special tinnitus therapy components that provide the user with relief when it comes to constant ringing in the ear.
Now that you are aware of some interesting tidbits about hearing aids and their accompanying technology, you can better understand what they have to offer the young and the old alike.