The following article is copied in part from www.hear-it.org.
Hearing aid technology is constantly evolving and becoming increasingly advanced. Modern hearing aids are small high-tech computers, constantly being refined and developed to provide better reproduction of natural human hearing.
The progress allows for increasing numbers of sophisticated features to be built into the hearing aids and providing improved sound reproduction. The ability to adapt the devices to individual demands with respect to your daily environment and type of hearing loss is constantly improving.
More programming
The most advanced modern digital hearing aids are constantly analysing the sounds of your environment and changing between built-in programs, automatically selecting the appropriate programming mode for the specific situation.
The entire sound reproduction is constantly adapted by the hearing aid to provide you with the best possible hearing.
Intrusive background noise cut out
Many hearing aids have two microphones, making it possible to focus on specific sound sources while reducing irritating background noise.
At a reception the voice of the person you are looking at can be accentuated while the voices of others around you are softened.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids used to make it difficult for the user to determine the direction of the sounds. This is no longer the case. Complicated calculations in the hearing aids now make it possible for the brain to determine where the sound is coming from. This type of hearing aid has also become sleeker and less obtrusive than earlier models.
Advancements
The technical advancements open up new possibilities, such as:
- Irritating echoes and hollow sounds can be reduced.
- Dedicated telephone software is activated when you put the receiver to your ear.
- Automated adaptation to loop or FM systems makes the hearing aid receive signals from the appropriate transmitters.
- Remote control, allowing you to change selections made by the hearing aid.
- Adaptation of extremely small ear molds in order to eliminate annoying feedback (occlusion).
- Bluetooth technology is being incorporated into hearing aids. It allows for wireless connection of your mobile phone to your hearing aid.
More effective adjustments
Hearing aids must be continuously adjusted to get the best possible results.
A built-in digital hearing aid log makes it easier for the audiologist to fine-tune the hearing aids to suit your daily environment. The adjustments can be based on your comments as well as technical data recorded in the hearing aids.
Personal style
While the technology is advancing, styling and design is deemed to be of great importance, as well. The hearing aids must look attractive and be as small and unobtrusive or stylish as possible. Color choices and different shapes are now available to suit your personal style. Some hearing aids are designed to be worn in combination with jewelry for your ears.
Bottom line: These are not your grandmother's hearing aids! Modern technology has made it more effective, more convenient, and more attractive to hear better!
