Hearing Aids of The Future Are Here Now

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It seems as if all our devices are getting smarter, stronger, and more compact. Being smaller while doing more is the overall trend.

This is also true for hearing aids, and it’s not surprising. Though hearing issues have a variety of causes, hearing difficulties are more prevalent amongst older individuals, and the world’s population is aging. About 37.5 million people and 3 million Canadians describe some level of hearing loss according to the National Institutes of Health. And that number is rising since age is the best demographic variable to predict hearing loss.

If you’re dealing with hearing loss, that’s one person too many. Are there any better ways to manage hearing loss? Let’s have them! Innovations are happening, here are a few.

Using Your Hearing Aid to Track Your Whole Body

This is so intuitive, it’s one of those “Now why didn’t I think of that” developments. Devices that offer different kinds of health tracking are almost always worn and have to be worn on the body. So do you really need a device on your wrist if you already have one in your ear? The answer is no. If you have the latest hearing aid, it probably can track your pulse, physical activity along with correcting hearing problems like tinnitus. Hearing aids can also track things that other wearables normally don’t, like the time spent conversing. How much social involvement you get can actually be a vital health metric, especially as you age.

Better Streaming Straight to You

Connectivity is the major watchword, as virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa have moved from smartphones to in-home devices seamlessly. Audio from a device, such as a smart TV can now be streamed directly to your hearing aid if it is Bluetooth capable. Android developers now have open-source specifications supplied by Google which lets them use certain Bluetooth channels to stream uninterrupted audio straight to your hearing aid. This technology is making things like movies and music more enjoyable by acting like super-powered wireless headphones.

Smart Adjustments From Big Data

Your next hearing aid might make individualized recommendations much like how a Fitbit informs you of fitness objectives or how Netflix suggests your next movie in line with your viewing trend. Several manufacturers are working on hearing aids that will learn both from the adjustments you make and from listening to the places you go. Some push it even further, crowdsourcing information on how people use their hearing aids anonymizing and then mixing the data. All this info allows the hearing aids to ascertain your preferences and make adjustments on the fly so that whether you’re watching TV at home or you’re at an IMAX theater (for instance), you’ll get the best sound.

Eliminating The Batteries Once And For All

Yeah, it sounds too good to be true, hearing aids that don’t require batteries? It can be very inconvenient making certain you have extra batteries or that your hearing aids are completely charged. While we’re not likely to get hearing aids that don’t need any batteries, there has been a constant advancement in rechargeable technology. You’ll get quicker charging time, extended use time, and less worry about batteries, which seems pretty good.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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