It seems as if all our devices are getting stronger, smarter, and smaller. Being smaller while having more functionality is the general trend.
So it’s not surprising that hearing aids are no different. The world’s population is getting older and hearing problems, though they can have a variety of causes, are more common amongst older individuals. About 37.5 million people and 3 million Canadians report some amount of hearing loss according to the National Institutes of Health. And that number is increasing because age is the best demographic variable to predict hearing loss.
Naturally, if you’re dealing with hearing loss, even one individual with trouble hearing, i.e. you, is one person too many. Better ways to alleviate hearing loss? Let’s have them! Advancements are happening, here are a few.
Using Your Hearing Aid to Track Your Whole Body
This one seems like it should be obvious. Devices that offer different types of health tracking are nearly always worn and have to be worn close to the body. So, if you already have a device that’s in your ear… do you actually need a separate one on your wrist? The answer is no. Or at least, you don’t with some of the latest hearing aids, which along with helping correct for hearing difficulties such as tinnitus, will also track your pulse, your physical activity, and much more. Hearing aids also have the ability to track things that other wearables usually don’t, like the duration of conversations. How much social engagement you get can actually be an important health metric, particularly as you age.
Better Streaming Straight to You
Connectivity is the primary watchword, as virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa have advanced from smartphones to in-home devices seamlessly. Audio from a device, like a smart TV can now be streamed directly to your hearing aid if it is Bluetooth compatible. Google published open-source standards for Android developers that show them how to use specific channels within Bluetooth to provide uninterrupted audio straight to hearing aids. This technology is making things like movies and music more enjoyable by acting like super-powered wireless headphones.
Smart Adjustments From Big Data
In a similar way to how Netflix recommends shows and movies based on what you’ve watched previously, or your Fitbit alerts you to tell you that you’ve reached a goal (or okay, let’s say stepping stone, depending on how ambitious your everyday step goals are), your next hearing aid might make personalized recommendations. The places you go and the adjustments you make will allow these new hearing aids, being manufactured by several companies, to learn your habits. Some push it even further, crowdsourcing information on how individuals use their hearing aids anonymizing and then mixing the data. So whether you’re watching TV at home, or in an IMAX theater, your hearing aids will be able to use this information to know what your situation is and make adjustments to provide you with the best audio experience.
Finally Losing The Batteries
Ya, it sounds too good to be true, hearing aids that don’t need batteries? After all, making certain you’ve got spare batteries on hand, or even making time to recharge your hearing aid batteries, can be a pain in the, um, ear. While a hearing aid that doesn’t take any batteries at all may seem like wishful thinking, rechargeable battery technology continues to improve. You’ll get faster charging time, longer use time, and less worry about batteries, which seems pretty good.