There’s a lot of ground to cover when it comes to hearing aids. In fact, the history spans about 200 years of advancements, made possible by technology stemming from concerned scientists who had a hearing impaired loved one in their life. One example is Alexander Graham Bell, who was the son of a woman with hearing loss. Coincidentally, his wife was deaf too.
Scan these little-known tidbits when it comes to hearing aids and you will see how helpful they are.
1. Hearing aids used to be available only in beige, for blending purposes. They still are, but now bold patterns and colors are offered. Particularly popular with today’s young hearing aid wearers, the bold and beautiful devices now come in a rainbow of colors.
2. It used to be that feedback, echoes, and background noises distracting to users were an unfortunate side effect of the older technologies. This made it difficult to detect sound but now, digital hearing aids, emerging in the last two decades, have solved all that.
3. Hearing aids and wireless devices go seamlessly together today, thanks to state of the art technology like Bluetooth. This technology sends direct signals from anything from a smart phone to an MP3 player to a TV.
4. The earliest versions were so heavy and had so many components to them, with little sound amplification benefits, that they could be more trouble than they were worth. Now, hearing aids are so small and compact, users hardly notice them .This is a relief from the large, cumbersome and uncomfortable hearing aids of years past that weighed several pounds. Users can now enjoy smaller and more light weight versions that weigh in at just a few ounces.
5. Simple sound amplification is not enough for modern hearing aids to be effective. That’s why they now have the capability of enhancing and clarifying sound for a much better listening experience.
6. Did you know there’s such a thing as water resistant and waterproof hearing aids? With your active lifestyle, you will appreciate that water resistant hearing aids can withstand low levels of humidity and moisture, and waterproof hearing aids can withstand moisture that may occur as a result of a shower or a dip in the swimming pool.
7. Induction loops were invented to help people hear better in crowds. They can more accurately pick up announcements in crowded places or in corporate meeting conferences, minus all that background noise and frequency distortion. This can be helpful in airports, stadiums, and other public transportation areas.
8. Many hearing aids, now manufactured with rechargeable technology to better manage upkeep costs, allow the user to forget about having to replace so many batteries all the time.
9. You can’t just purchase a hearing aid at the big box store and take it home. A big part of the process is the programming that must take place by a certified audiologist. This helps the hearing aid to automatically revert to the most comfortable settings that the user enjoys, based on previous use and interaction with the surroundings.
10. Hearing aids don’t just concentrate on the amplification of sound. They often times have special components like tinnitus therapy. This gives much-needed relief for users who suffer from constant ear ringing.
Keep these facts in mind the next time someone asks you about hearing aids!