Did you know that the first effective hearing aid was a ram-shaped horn amplifier? This was the predecessor of the hearing aids that we have today.
Hearing technology has come a long way. Advancements in computer technologies have paved the way for significant improvements in how hearing aids work. This blog will discuss several notable developments in hearing aids that you should know about.
Size
The most apparent improvement is size. Hearing aids used to be bulky devices that were noisy and easily seen. Advances in component size have enabled hearing aids to be smaller, more powerful, and more discreet than ever before.
Rechargeability
Hearing aids are electronic devices that require a power source to work. That power source was a hearing aid battery that needed to be replaced after being drained. While battery-powered hearing aids are still available, rechargeable hearing aids are an option if you don’t want to deal with batteries.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Hearing aids can now connect wirelessly to Bluetooth devices like smartphones and music players for streaming high-quality audio directly into the wearer’s ears.
Directional Microphones
New digital hearing aids have more than one microphone built-in that detect sounds coming from multiple directions. This feature, combined with advanced digital signal processing, gives hearing aids unprecedented control over the listening experience.
Advanced Calibration Control
Older hearing aids only offered limited control over the hearing aids’ useable frequency range. As a result, an audiologist had to make inevitable tradeoffs when setting the device.
Modern digital hearing aids have greater control across their useable frequency range. This level of control allows an audiologist to optimize the amount of amplification at all frequencies based on a person’s unique hearing loss.
Noise Reduction
Advanced digital signal processing, or DSP, has allowed hearing aid manufacturers to develop advanced noise and feedback reduction controls. This allows for a more comfortable experience for the wearer and helps to give them the best signal to listen to. The better the signal, the better the chances to hear what’s happening around you.
Take Away
It’s safe to say that hearing aids have come a long way. But, don’t let what you know about old hearing aids impact how you feel about modern hearing aids. Technology has allowed hearing aids to become highly effective tools for overcoming hearing loss.
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