The Best Hearing Aid Technology

If you are suffering from hearing loss and you speak to an audiologist, they will usually recommend one form of treatment over the rest. They will suggest you get yourself a pair of hearing aids. You might think that all hearing aids are exactly the same, but there are actually several brands, styles and features to choose from. Hearing aids can actually differ in a variety of ways and one of the most crucial is the variance in technology between advanced and basic devices. Your audiologist can help you pick the hearing aids with the right technology for you. But here are a few unique pieces of technology that you should be looking out for when you move towards this type of purchase.

Tech that connects you

There are various technical features that can help you connect to the outside world and other technology that you might use in your life. For instance, your hearing aids might be able to operate with your phone, your computer, your iPod, your TV or your speaker system. What this means is that they will be able to input sound from devices like this directly into your ear. It means that a hearing aid can also be used as a headphone except it’s actually better. While headphones can blast sound into your ear with such force it can damage your hearing further, hearing aids won’t. But you will still be able to hear sounds from these devices far more clearly.

So, how does this work? The most common way to connect your hearing aids is through Bluetooth technology. Almost every piece of technology you can buy on the market now is compatible with Bluetooth for a wireless connection. So, whether you’re investing in the new iPhone or a 4K TV, you may have the option connect it to your hearing aids if you pick a compatible device.

Tech that helps you

There’s also technology available in hearing aids that can help improve your quality of life. For instance, you might find that you need a different level of support depending on the environment. The level of support you need when in a quiet room talking to one person is not going to be the same as the level of support you need in a crowded area with multiple people talking. But the good news is that the latest hearing aids are very clever pieces of technology indeed and they can change based on the environment you’re using them in. How does this work?

Well, there are a few different ways that this can occur. The first is that the hearing aid can have a memory system. That means the device can store certain settings that you want to use. You can typically set these yourself. So, you’ll be able to decide on a setting that includes features like a level for surround noise reduction, general volume and hearing balance. You could have four different settings for different situations, all with their own setup. Changing between these can be as easy as flipping a switch on the hearing aid yourself. Some may even be controlled through an app.

It’s worth mentioning noise reduction as well. With noise reduction, you can focus in on someone speaking and block out surrounding noise. Your hearing aids can even be focused in one direction rather than picking up sound from the entire room or space. This can be very useful if you want to make sure you hear exactly what someone is saying during a conversation.

These devices can even be automated. That means the hearing aids will pick up what type of environment you are in and change the settings to match. This type of technology is already on the market so be sure to ask your audiologist about it at your next appointment.

Tech for other hearing issues

Finally, you might want to think about investing in hearing aids with technology that provide support for issues beyond hearing loss like tinnitus. While often connected with hearing loss, tinnitus causes you to hear a sound that isn’t there. However, hearing aids can help by providing you with a way to mask the noise. That way, it’s not nearly as irritating as it usually will be for someone with this condition.

Are you interested in learning more about hearing aid technology? Contact ENT Physicians, Inc today at (419) 318-4987 for expert advice on the right hearing aid features for you.