3 High-Tech Features of Modern Hearing Aids

Technology has grown exponentially in the last couple of hundred years and has benefited every industry around the world. Hearing aids in particular have come a long way in such a short space of time.

In the late 1800s, the first hearing aids were created. This shortly followed the telephone, as that device was created to control the frequency, loudness, and distortion of sounds. It was this technology that led to the invention of the hearing aid by Miller Reese Hutchinson. In the early 1900s, hearing aids were introduced into the market. These were large devices that were not easy to carry around.

Since this time, a variety of different hearing aids have been developed, each increasing in features, and decreasing in size. Just like with the evolution of computers that have gone from big and bulky, to small and sleek, hearing aids have been able to utilize technology to do the same. Hearing aids have developed over the years into a device unrecognizable to that created in the 1800s.

Hearing aids on the market now have a range of high-tech features that make them special, affordable, and sought-after. Here are 3 of the best features of the modern hearing aids that you need to know.

A Discreet Design

The first-ever hearing aid was the opposite of discreet. If you could obtain one of the first hearing aids, you would have had to carry around a big, boxy device with you. Fortunately, technology has developed and the hearing aid designs are much more discreet. Some of the most popular hearing aids currently on the market are:

• In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids: These are the most discreet designs as they are customized to fit into the person’s ear, and do not have any external tubes or wires to connect to.
• Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids: These are small devices that fit behind a person’s ear, with a small, clear tube that connects to the ear mold that sits inside the ear.
• In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids: These are larger devices of the two, but extremely discreet in comparison to older hearing aids. These rest in the ear canal and extend outwards.

Ability to connect to your smartphone

More than 80% of the global population have a smartphone, and they have become a device that people are dependent on. From managing their finances to catching up with friends, nearly all tasks can be done via a smartphone. So why should hearing aid management be any different?

Manufacturers are always working hard to utilize the best technology in their latest devices. There are now devices on the market that boast the feature of smartphone connectivity. With the touch of a button, you can download the relevant application on your smart device, and use it to improve the quality of your hearing.

The applications will enable you to manage your hearing aid device and change the setting whenever you feel necessary to do so. This is a great feature for when you are out and about and at work. It makes it extremely easy and convenient to do and saves you the trouble of having to take the hearing device out and adjust the settings. This can be a pain when in busy settings or when you’re away from home.

Rechargeable hearing aids

Gone are the days of having to keep buying and replacing the specialized batteries that reside in your hearing aids and require them to function properly. Now, technology has advanced and created hearing aids with rechargeable features. Hearing aids are being created with a battery that is built into the device, that you no longer have to remove.

Just like a smartwatch, you can place your hearing aids onto a recharging dock when you are not using them, for example, when you are sleeping, so they are ready to use the next day. With the way technology has advanced, this also means that batteries have a much longer battery life than before. This makes hearing aids much easier to manage and use daily.

These are three high-tech features of hearing aids on the current market, but technology is always evolving. In just a short time, hearing aids have developed from large, boxy devices you have to carry around, to discreet, in-the-ear devices that can be managed via your smartphone. You can expect to see more positive changes in the years to come that will only make hearing aid devices better and your life easier.

To learn more about your hearing aid options and the features that could benefit your life, contact ENT Physicians Inc. today at (419) 318-4987.