Things have changed since your great, great grandfather held an ear trumpet up to his ear. Modern hearing aids are capable of so much more than these devices could do even a decade ago. The advancement of hearing aid technology allows users to do activities that seemed unlikely in the past. Just consider these seven things hearing aids are now able to do.
1. Don’t Fall Out While Exercising
Jogging or riding a bike while wearing a hearing aid would have been risky in the past. Even the highest quality hearing aids can be damaged if they fall out while you are exercising. Now it’s possible to wear your hearing aids while working out whether you are a novice or an athlete.
The evolution here is not in the technology, though. Hearing aids that fall out can still get broken or lost. The simple principle of a hearing aid retention cord wins the day. Consider it a lanyard for your hearing aids. They attach to the hearing aid 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 water resistant, they still won’t do well when fully immersed. Instead, if you want to go swimming you’ll need to get yourself waterproof hearing aids and think about a few add-ons.
Start with a protective covering for your hearing aids. Your device is protected by waterproof sleeves that fit snugly over them and still allows you to hear. A cord also comes with most sleeves so you won’t lose your hearing aid while enjoying summer activities.
A dehumidifier is an additional item you might want to get. Some water is going get into the case regardless of what you do. The dehumidifier dries the devices out without damaging their fragile electronic parts.
3. Pair With Your Smartphone
Now when your phone rings you don’t need to take your hearing aids out. However, some brands don’t have this feature. Wireless streaming capability and Bluetooth enabling are capabilities you will want to consider when purchasing new hearing aids. This technology lets them pair with your phone the same way Bluetooth earbuds or headphones do.
Want to stream a movie? Wireless comes in handy in this situation, as well. With Bluetooth or wireless, the hearing aids can pick up sound from your TV or MP3 player.
Most 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. Some devices can remember what volume you prefer in different environments and will make the adjustment without you doing a thing, for instance.
You can also just push 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 many people. Hearing aids which come with tinnitus maskers or sound generators will play a low-level sound in the background that covers up the ringing, so you hear sounds better. The masking noise cancels out the tinnitus, and that ringing stops. Not all brands have this tinnitus masking technology. If you are investing in hearing aids, and need this feature, you will have to ask for it.
6. Store Data
Data logging is one of the newer features in hearing aid technology but a compelling one. Volume adjustments, when you use the hearing aid, and background noises you come across are examples of things that are logged by these devices.
Essential adjustments can be made when your audiologist or hearing aid retailer a*/ccess this data improving sound quality.
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 help you to do things with your hearing aids that weren’t possible years ago. Hearing aid tech is constantly progressing, too. Be certain to check out the latest features when you go shopping for a new hearing aid. To see them all, make an appointment with a hearing professional today.