Is Your Hearing Aid Smarter Than a Fourth Grader?

Today, everything is known to be “smart”: smart phones, smart cars, smart TV and now, what’s next? Yes, that’s right, now hearing aids are smart as well! Technology is developing so rapidly that hearing aids are getting a high-tech upgrade. They are smaller, less visible and “smarter” than they’ve ever been.
Did you know that we actually interpret sounds with our brain and not our ears? Our two ears receive or bring in the sound and then transmit these sounds to the part of our brain that processes hearing. When our ears perceive a sound, the brain determines its direction and meaning. Many of the new “smart” hearing aids, when fit as a pair, exchange and share information real time replicating how the brain naturally hears.
Over time, we all learn to adapt and adjust to certain sounds in a variety of listening environments. Did you know that smart hearing aids act and function quite the same by utilizing internal features and the microphone system to determine the optimal listening mode, automatically adjusting with changes in the environment which translates into enhanced speech perception? Many of these “smart” hearing aids even remember the volume adjustments made for a particular environment which makes manual adjustments unnecessary and allows the hearing aid user to control the treble, bass, check battery levels, and choose custom programs discreetly through the use of their cell phones or remote control accessory.
Many hearing aid companies incorporate Bluetooth technology which offers numerous options for the hearing aid user. Bluetooth capability allow users to connect with other assistive listening devices to stream or connect phone calls, listen to music through their IPad or IPhone and even watch a television show in stereo mode that streams into both hearing aid ears at the same time.
Many aids have an App for your smartphone or computer allowing you customized solutions for your hearing challenges. Some Apps even allow you to troubleshoot when the aid isn’t working properly. There’s even a “find my aid” option when wearing only one of the two hearing aids. We observe, first hand, the life-changing benefits when our patients choose to wear hearing aids. There are so many solutions to satisfy each individual based on needs and preferences. The options are endless with today’s amazing technology.