You may remember the phrase “world of tomorrow,” which was used to describe the bright future that technology was envisioned to bring to society. We’re currently living in a “golden age” of technology, and the advancement of hearing aids is an important part of it.
Having the capability of connecting to your smartphone, TV, or computer is something that lots of modern hearing aid designs come with. This permits you to hear these devices better and also creates a more relaxing environment for those around you who are too nice to tell you to turn down the volume on the TV.
While these technological features are perfect for entertainment applications, some hearing aid wearers find the functions too difficult and frequently don’t activate them. This could be an expensive mistake.
Improved Connectivity Brings Another Level of Safety
According to the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the smoke alarm can’t be heard by a substantial number of individuals over 50. Do you have any rooms in your home where it would be hard to hear your smoke alarm? This can sometimes be a challenge even if you have a hearing aid. Thankfully, this life threatening risk is already being minimized by new technology.
The public is getting access to new devices that are being manufactured every year. Smart home systems normally come with smoke detectors that can connect to newer hearing aids. This means you’ll hear the alarm from anywhere in your home. The technical process is very similar to how hearing aids stream audio from your computer, tablet, or TV to your hearing aid. The only difference is when you connect your hearing aids to your smoke alarms, it could save your life.
Smart Home Doorbells Can Connect to Hearing Aids
Connecting your hearing aid to all of the devices in your smart home offers you more than just a safety factor, it also has a convenience and entertainment element, particularly at your front door. Wi-fi connected doorbells have become prevalent among homeowners. The advantage of these doorbells is that they offer audio and video features.
The good news for hearing aid wearers with smart home technology is that it’s one more device your hearing aid can sync to. Wondering who’s at the door? A Wi-fi doorbell would send audio directly to your hearing aid so you would know who’s at the door immediately.
Why It’s Worth Getting Set up
It takes a little time to set these functions up to communicate with your hearing aid, and that deters many people from using them. However, it’s worthwhile to understand that connecting your hearing aid to smart devices in your home can make your life safer, more comfortable, and ultimately more enjoyable.
The best part? When you buy your hearing aids, we can show you exactly how to set them up. Even if you’re still not sure after you get home, the internet is a great resource for set-up help.
In short, if you’ve bought a new hearing aid that has wi-fi capabilities, you’re losing out if you don’t set them up.
Is it Time to Update Your Hearing Aids?
If you have older hearing aids they most likely don’t have very good connectivity options. Also, the audio quality of hearing aids is improving every day. If you’re having problems with hearing in specific settings or want to check out some of the new features you’re missing, make an appointment with us to improve your hearing as well as your quality of life.