Since the days when your great, great grandfather used one of those ear trumpets to hear, things have changed. Even 10 years ago, hearing aids weren’t capable of doing the things they can do today. The development of hearing aid tech permits users to do activities that were unlikely in the past. Just consider these seven things hearing aids are now capable of doing.
1. Don’t Fall Out While Exercising
Once upon a time, it would have been unheard of to ride a bike or jog while wearing your hearing aids. Even the highest quality hearing aids can be damaged if they fall out while you are exercising. Now it’s possible to wear your hearing aids when you’re working out whether you are a novice or an athlete.
However, the change is not just in the technology. You still can break or lose your hearing aids if they fall out. Innovation wins out with a simple idea: hearing aid retention cords. It’s kind of like having your hearing aids on a lanyard. They attach to the hearing aid and then clip to your clothes for safety. Hearing aid retention cords area great choice for kids, too.
2. Resist Water
While it is true many hearing aids are resistant to water, they still don’t do well when completely submerged. Instead, if you want to go swimming you’ll need to get waterproof hearing aids and consider some add-ons.
Protective coverings are available for your hearing aids. Your device is protected by waterproof sleeves that fit tightly over them and still allows you to hear. The majority of the sleeves have cords that connect to your clothing too, so you won’t lose the hearing aids when you are enjoying some summer activities.
A dehumidifier is an additional piece of equipment you may want to get. Some amount of water will get inside the case regardless of what you do. The dehumidifier dries the units out without damaging their delicate electronic parts.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you won’t have to remove your hearing aids. However, some brands don’t have this feature. You want to invest in hearing aids that are Bluetooth-enabled or have the wireless streaming capability. The same way that earbuds or headphones use Bluetooth to connect to your phone, these kinds of hearing aids also do that.
Would you like to stream a movie? Wireless is useful there, too. Sound from your MP3 player or TV can be received 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 right, hearing aids have machine learning features. Some devices can remember what volume you prefer in different environments and will make the adjustment without you doing a thing, for instance.
They can also come with multiple programs so you can store a particular setup in the memory and press a button to recall it when you need it.
5. Make the Ringing Go Away
For lots of people tinnitus and hearing loss go hand in hand. You will hear sounds better because your hearing aid can generate tinnitus masking noises. The ringing will subside after the masking sound cancels the tinnitus. Not all brands come with this tinnitus masking technology. If you are shopping for hearing aids, and want this function, you will have to ask for it.
6. Store Data
A powerful new feature in hearing aids is data logging. Volume changes, when you use the hearing aid, and background noises you encounter are examples of things that are logged by these devices.
Critical adjustments can be made when your audiologist or hearing aid retailer a*/ccess this information enhancing sound quality.
7. Go Remote
You can quickly adjust 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 let you do things with your hearing aids that weren’t possible years ago. Hearing aid technology is constantly progressing, too. If you’re buying new hearing aids, be certain to take a look at the latest and greatest features. To see them all, schedule an appointment with a hearing expert right away.
