Since the days when your great, great grandpa used one of those ear trumpets to hear, things have changed. Newer hearing aids are able to do so much more than they could do even a decade 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 now capable of doing.
1. Prevent Accidental Damage While Exercising
Jogging or riding a bike with a hearing aid in would have been risky in the past. Even the highest quality hearing aids are subject to damage if they fall out while you are exercising. Now you can to keep your hearing aids in when you’re exercising whether you are a beginner or an athlete.
However, the change is not only in the technology. You still can break or lose your hearing aids if they fall out. Innovation wins out with a simple concept: hearing aid retention cords. It’s kind of like having your hearing aids on a lanyard. They clip to your clothes and slide on to the hearing aid as a safety measure. Kids will also benefit from hearing aid retention cords.
2. Resist Water
Most hearing aids don’t do well when fully submerged even though they are water resistant. Waterproof hearing aids and a couple of accessories will be necessary if you plan to swim with your hearing aid.
Protective coverings are available for your hearing aids. Waterproof Sleeves fit tightly over the devices to shield them from water damage while still letting you 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.
Another thing you may want to invest in is a dehumidifier for your hearing aids. Some water will get inside the case no matter what you do. The dehumidifier dries the units out without damaging their fragile electronic parts.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you won’t need to take your hearing aids out. Not all hearing aid brands do this, however. 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 kinds 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. Signals from your phone can be heard in your hearing aid thanks to a telecoil.
4. Learn
That’s correct, machine learning features are available in many models. Some devices can remember what volume you prefer in different settings and will make the adjustment without you having to do anything, for instance.
You can also just press a button and load a particular setup stored in one of the numerous programs.
5. Stopping The Ringing
Loss of hearing and tinnitus go hand in hand for lots of people. Hearing aids that include tinnitus maskers or sound generators will play a low-level sound in the background that masks the ringing, so you hear sounds clearer. The masking noise cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing stops. Tinnitus masking is a specific 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 powerful new function in hearing aids is data logging. The devices log things such as when you use the hearing aids, times you make volume adjustments and what background sounds you encounter.
The benefit is your audiologist or hearing aid retailer can pull up this data to make critical modifications to the devices to improve their sound or give you insight to go on when buying new hearing aids.
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 functions are new, but they all let you do things with your hearing aids that were impossible years ago. Also, progress in hearing aid technology is always being made. If you go shopping for new hearing aids, make sure to take a look at the latest and greatest features. To see them all, make an appointment with a hearing specialist today.
