Since the times when your great, great grandpa used one of those ear trumpets to hear, things have changed. Modern 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 ago are currently possible due to innovations in hearing aid tech. Just consider these seven things hearing aids are now able to do.
1. Prevent Accidental Damage While Exercising
Jogging or riding a bike while wearing a hearing aid would have been risky in the past. When you are physically active, hearing aids can fall out even high quality ones. These days whether you are an athlete or beginner it is possible to exercise while wearing your hearing aids.
The evolution here is not in the technology, however. You can still damage or lose your hearing aids if they fall out. 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 hearing aid and then clip to your clothes for safety. Hearing aid retention cords area smart choice for kids, too.
2. Resist Water
While it is true most hearing aids are resistant to water, they still don’t do well when fully submerged. Instead, if you want to swim you’ll need to get yourself waterproof hearing aids and think about some accessories.
Raincoats are available for your hearing aids. Your device is shielded by waterproof sleeves that fit securely over them while still allowing you to hear. Most 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 might want to get is a dehumidifier for your hearing aids. Some amount of water is going get into the case regardless of what you do. The dehumidifier dries the units out without damaging their complex electronic components.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you don’t need to remove your hearing aids. Not all hearing aid brands have this feature, though. Wireless streaming capability and Bluetooth enabling are features you will want to think about when purchasing new hearing aids. This technology allows them to pair with your phone just like Bluetooth earbuds or headphones do.
Interested in streaming 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 is equipped with Bluetooth technology.
Most hearing aids come with a telephone adaptation, also, that works for both cell phones or landlines. Telephone adaptation uses a telecoil to receive 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 will make volume adjustments depending on the setting by remembering your preference and you won’t need to do anything.
You can also just press a button and load a specific setup stored in one of the multiple programs.
5. Make the Ringing Go Away
For many people tinnitus and hearing loss go hand in hand. Hearing aids which come with tinnitus maskers or sound generators will play a low-level sound in the background that masks the ringing, so you hear sounds clearer. The ringing will go away after the masking sound cancels the tinnitus. Tinnitus masking is a particular feature, though, and not available from all brands. Be certain 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 changes and what background noises you come across.
The benefit is your audiologist or hearing aid retailer can pull up this data to make crucial modifications to the devices to enhance their sound or give you information to go on when buying new hearing aids.
7. Go Remote
You can conveniently lower the volume, change the program, or use your hearing aid as a Bluetooth streaming device if it comes with a remote.
Not all of these functions are new, but they all help you to 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, be certain to check out the latest and greatest features. To see them all, schedule an appointment with a hearing expert today.
