Since the days 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 today. The innovation of hearing aid tech allows users to do activities that seemed unlikely at one point. Hearing aids can now do the following things.
1. Prevent Accidental Damage While Exercising
Once upon a time, it would have been risky to ride a bike or jog while wearing your hearing aids. When you are physically active, hearing aids can fall out and that even goes for high quality devices. Now it’s possible to keep your hearing aids in when you’re working out whether you are a beginner or an athlete.
The evolution here is not in the technology, though. Hearing aids that fall out can still get damaged or lost. The basic principle of a hearing aid retention cord wins the day. Think of it as a lanyard for your hearing aids. 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
While it is true most hearing aids are resistant to water, they still don’t do well when fully submerged. Waterproof hearing aids and some accessories will be necessary if you want to swim with your hearing aid.
Start with a protective covering for your hearing aids. Waterproof Sleeves fit securely over the devices to shield them from water damage while still allowing you to hear. The majority of the sleeves come with cords that attach to your clothing too, so you won’t lose the hearing aids when you are enjoying some summer fun.
The second thing you may want to invest in is a dehumidifier for your hearing aids. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, some amount of water is going to get inside the case. The dehumidifier dries the devices out without damaging their delicate electronic components.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you don’t need to take your hearing aids out. Not all hearing aid brands do this, though. Wireless streaming capability and Bluetooth enabling are capabilities you will want to think about when buying new hearing aids. 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? This is another case where wireless functionality come in handy. With Bluetooth or wireless, the hearing aids can receive sound from your TV or MP3 player.
Most hearing aids have a telephone adaptation, as well, that works for cell phones or landlines. Telephone adaptation uses a telecoil to pick up signals from the phones so you can hear them through your hearing aids.
4. Learn
That’s correct, hearing aids have machine learning capabilities. Some devices can remember what volume you prefer in different situations and will make the adjustment without you having to do anything, for instance.
They can also come with multiple programs so you can store a specific setup in the memory and press a button to recall it when the time is right.
5. Make the Ringing Stop
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 better. The ringing will go away after the masking sound cancels the tinnitus. Not all brands come with this tinnitus masking tech. Make 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 like when you use the hearing aids, times you make volume adjustments and what background noises you encounter.
The benefit is your audiologist or hearing aid retailer can use this data to make crucial adjustments to the devices to improve their sound or give you insight to go on when shopping for new hearing aids.
7. Go Remote
Hearing aids that come with remotes allow you to quickly change programs, lower the volume or even act as a Bluetooth streaming device.
All of these features permit you to do things that were impossible years ago despite the fact that they aren’t all brand new. Hearing aid tech is constantly advancing, too. If you’re buying new hearing aids, make sure to check out the latest and greatest features. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional to see them all.