Things have changed since your great, great grandpa held an ear trumpet up to his ear. Modern hearing aids are capable of so much more than these devices could do even 10 years ago. Activities that were not possible a few years ago are now possible because of developments in hearing aid technology. Hearing aids can now do the following things.
1. Don’t Fall Out While Exercising
At one time, it would have been unheard of to ride a bike or jog while wearing your hearing aids. When you are moving around, hearing aids can fall out and that even goes for high quality devices. 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 just in the technology. Hearing aids that fall out can still get damaged or lost. The simple concept of a hearing aid retention cord solves the problem. It’s kind of like having your hearing aids on a lanyard. They clip to your clothes and connect to the hearing aid as a security measure. Kids will also benefit from hearing aid retention cords.
2. Resist Water
While it is true many hearing aids are water resistant, they still don’t do well when completely submerged. Instead, if you want to go swimming you’ll need to invest in waterproof hearing aids and think about a few accessories.
Begin with a raincoat for your hearing aids. Waterproof Sleeves fit securely over the devices to protect them from water damage while still letting you hear. Many of the sleeves have cords that attach to your clothing too, so you won’t lose the hearing aids while enjoying some summer activities.
A dehumidifier is another piece of equipment you may want to invest in. No matter how careful you are, some amount of water will get inside the case. The dehumidifier dries the devices out without damaging their complex electronic parts.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
No more having to remove your hearing aid every time your phone rings. Not all hearing aid brands do this, however. 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.
Want to stream a movie? This is another case where wireless features come in handy. Sound from your MP3 player or TV can be received by a hearing aid that has Bluetooth technology.
The majority of hearing aids have a telephone adaptation, also, that works for both cell phones or landlines. Signals from your phone can be heard in your hearing aid thanks to a telecoil.
4. Learn
That’s correct, hearing aids have machine learning capabilities. Certain devices will make volume adjustments depending on the setting by remembering your preference and you won’t need to do anything.
You can also just push a button and recall a particular setup stored in one of the multiple programs.
5. Make the Ringing Stop
Loss of hearing and tinnitus go hand in hand for lots of people. You will hear sounds better because your hearing aid can produce tinnitus masking noises. The masking sound cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing stops. Not all brands have this tinnitus masking technology. Be certain you ask for it if you are shopping for hearing aids.
6. Store Data
Data logging is one of the more recent functions in hearing aid technology but a compelling one. Volume changes, when you use the hearing aid, and background noises you encounter are examples of things that are logged by these devices.
Critical modifications can be made when your audiologist or hearing aid retailer a*/ccess this information enhancing sound quality.
7. Go Remote
Hearing aids that come with remotes let you to quickly change programs, lower the volume or even act as a Bluetooth streaming device.
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 tech is constantly progressing, too. If you’re buying new hearing aids, be sure to take a look at the latest and greatest features. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care specialist to see them all.