We’ve compiled numerous facts about hearing aids and what they’re capable of. Since they’ve made many achievements over the last 200 years, it’s interesting to note that this growing technology has resulted from hard working, committed scientists who have a hearing impaired loved one in their lives. Alexander Graham Bell, for instance, had a mom suffering from hearing loss and a deaf wife.
1. The earliest versions of hearing aids were so heavy and cumbersome, people had to carry around equipment to use them. Plus, they left a lot to be desired in the sound amplification department. Today’s light weight versions are tiny and weight a couple of ounces at the most, which makes them the smallest and most compact they’re ever been.
2. With water resistant and waterproof hearing aids on the market today, it’s possible to go swimming, take a shower and live in a very humid environment with these devices. This gels well with people who have an active lifestyle, so they never have to worry about removing their device.
3. Hearing aids used to be available in drab beige, which blended into the ear better without detection. This was indeed practical and discrete, but today’s young hearing aid wearers want to stand out. The devices they are choosing come in vivid hues in a proud proclamation of hearing devices.
4. Digital hearing aids, prevalent in the last 20 years or so, can now reduce the feedback, echoes, and background noises that can prove to be a distraction to users. Older technologies unfortunately features all of these annoyances, which made it hard to people to properly pick up clear sound.
5. Sound amplification of course is a vital component of any hearing aid but more needs to come into play here. Modern versions are capable of enhancing and clarifying sound for a much more positive listening experience.
6. Induction loops — invented to help people hear better in crowds – are able to more accurately detect clear announcements in crowded places or in corporate meeting conferences. They also get rid of all that background noise and frequency distortion, which is certainly helpful in airports, stadiums, and public transportation areas.
7. It’s not recommended to purchase a hearing aid at the big box store and wear it home. The most important part of a hearing aid is that it has to be programmed by a professional. By being programmed, the device can adjust automatically to outside stimuli and use settings that the user has previously deemed comfortable.
8. Many hearing aids now have rechargeable technology rather than one-time-use batteries that are costly and need replacement regularly. This provides an added convenience to the user.
9. Hearing aids and wireless devices are a hallmark of modern technology, and this is no more so than in the use of hearing aids. These devices can connect to Bluetooth, which gives off direct signals from anything from a smart phone to an MP3 player.
10. In addition to offering the amplification of sound, hearing aids now feature special components like tinnitus therapy that provides relief from constant ear ringing. This is a hallmark of tinnitus, and something that can be very annoying.
Knowing more about hearing aids and their history can help spur on more research in the coming years.