All About Different Hearing Aid Features

If you are a hearing aid user, then you know how many benefits they have for you in increasing your connection with the people you love, your performance at work, your mobility, and your overall quality of life. Hearing aids are amazing technology, however like all things electronic they can get worn out and outdated. Technology is ever rapidly advancing, and hearing technology is often at the forefront of digital militarization providing more power in smaller and smaller packaging.

Most hearing aids last from 5 to 7 years and while that may not seem like a long time for your investment, consider how much work they do every day, amplifying your hearing from the moment you get out of bed, till the time you lay your head back down. This is a lot of work for a digital device and a lot of wear and tear as you are exposed to sweat and moisture. If your hearing aids aren’t working like they used to, the good news is an upgrade gives you a chance to take a moment to explore all the amazing features and advancements now available in hearing aids that may not have been available the last time you were in the market for hearing aids. Here are some features that may just make your life that much better!

Noise and Feedback Reduction

One of the biggest hurtles for people with hearing loss is hearing in noisy environments. It can be hard to focus in on one conversation when there are many occuring at once. Even with hearing aids, social events and navigating noisy environments can be a challenge. However, with advancements in digital technology many new hearing aids offer noise reduction features to help minimize the distracting buzz of noise so you can focus on the conversation at hand. In addition many hearing aids offer feedback reduction which ensures that any amplified sound is not picked up by the microphones, avoiding constant squealing and buzzing common with earlier models. Due to digitalization of hearing aids soundwaves are sectioned into tiny micro steps- each step providing a clear feedback free digital sound.

Directional Microphones

Crowded social events are one of the biggest hurtles for hearing aid users but with directional microphones you can enjoy conversation more clearly from the person standing directly in front of you. Each hearing aid has two microphones, one to pick up sounds in front of you, the other to pick up sounds behind you. The processor in your hearing aid is constantly monitoring your listening environment and when sounds become too loud it can silence the rear microphone. However, in less noisy situations its important to have a full circumference of hearing. The rear microphone will be switched back on, so you have a greater awareness of your total environment.

Gain Control

Sound is separated into individual frequencies, each of which has its own volume control. On an old stereo this is often referred to as gain. Gain in audio, is a term for amplification applied to a signal by any process that increases its strength and is measured in decibels or loudness. Many hearing aids currently on the market have as many as 15 or 20 frequency channels which can be adjusted by your audiologist. This can enhance your listening experience giving your more access to detecting higher or lower-pitched sounds.

Machine Learning

The future is here, and this means the machines in our life have the power to track and adapt to our behaviors. Some hearing aids offer machine learning which enables them to remember listening settings in common environments we travel to regularly such as our home, work, school, and gym. By using GPS technology, it detects when you are in one of these spaces and automatically switches to your preferred listening settings.

Wireless Connectivity

We use technology more than ever. Seems like everyone has a computer in the form of a smartphone these days and some people even wear them on their wrists. Bluetooth technology allows your hearing aids to wirelessly connect to all the devices in your life from your smartphone, your car stereo and your TV. Enjoy the ease of wireless connection directly to your hearing aids.

There are a lot of options out there. To find out which ones may be right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out and enjoy all the benefits of modern hearing aid technology today.