These days, there is a plethora of incredible hearing aids out there, chock full of sophisticated features and technology to treat hearing loss. Whether you are a musician, swimmer, athlete, outdoor enthusiast, fashionista, or tech geek, there’s something out there for you! Hearing aids are designed to treat your hearing loss at their most basic, but there are also many excellent options to consider when you think about how your hearing aids fit into your life. Start off your journey to better hearing with a visit to Neighborhood Hearing Aid Center, where we’ll start with a hearing test to evaluate your hearing needs.
Not those old clunky hearing aids
If you’re imagining clunky old hearing aids, think again! In recent years, hearing aid technology has undergone a renaissance. These days, manufacturers offer hearing aids that are faster, smarter, and sleeker than ever. They are designed with better speech recognition, better sound processing, and better ergonomics compared to hearing aids of yesteryear.
Through Bluetooth connectivity and wireless streaming, these miniature marvels stream music, movies, and television directly to your ears. Using the newest enhanced technology, they actually can “think” and distinguish conversation from background noise far better than before. Binaural hearing features gather audio data from both hearing aids and mix the sound, providing a richer listening experience, even if your hearing loss is different in each ear.
Flexible behind-the-ear hearing aids
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids have a slimmer profile, with a practically invisible tube that sits in the ear. The tiny clear tube that connects to the component worn behind your ear is made of material that practically disappears against the skin. The newest receiver-in-the-canal models are lighter and smaller, so they are more discreet, and the amplifier sits closer to the eardrum providing crystal clear sound from any direction. Built with more sophisticated material, these hearing aids are lightweight. Even so, they still pack a big performance and are designed to treat a wide degree of hearing loss. Newer BTE and receiver-in-canal models almost resemble Bluetooth attachments or high-tech communication devices, giving them a level of discretion.
Moisture Resistant
If you lead an active lifestyle, you’ll be pleased to hear that most hearing aids are built with materials the provide a high IP rating. Nanotech coating on hearing aids makes them more resistant to moisture, sweat, dirt and dust. There are special features that help combat wind issues, so you can go hiking without the constant whistling in your ears. New construction materials mean a tighter seal for the battery door if you choose a model that operates on batteries.
Rechargeable Options
Automatic charging has been around for a while, but now chargers are more portable – and they carry their own charge, so you can travel and not worry about being somewhere to plug in the charger. Manufacturers have moved toward powering hearing aids with lithium-ion battery technology, which charge faster and provide power for longer periods of time. Some hearing aids can hold a charge for over 24 hours, so you need not worry about being caught without replacement batteries at an inopportune time.
Automatic Adjustments
Technological advancements means your hearing aid can recognize the difference between the environment and a conversation. It also knows to reduce ambient noise, so you can hear a speaker music and conversation at a theatrical production or in a restaurant. Sudden loud noises like doors slamming, gun shots during a movie, fireworks or an engine backfiring are “recognized” by your hearing aids and the noise is reduced to a non-threatening level.
There’s an App for That
To make adjustments, you no longer have to fumble with the small buttons on your hearing devices. Instead, you can adjust them on a phone app or with a tiny remote that looks like something that opens a car door. Some Made for iPhone hearing aids offer an option to link up with your phone’s GPS, which remembers where you’ve been and your adjustments at that location. When you return to that spot, your hearing aids will automatically adjust. Additionally, some models allow you to have remote fine-tuning by your hearing professional. For people who misplace things, some hearing aids offer a “Find My Hearing Aid” function to help you relocate them!
Visit Us at Neighborhood Hearing Aid Center
Excited by these new offerings? Visit us at Neighborhood Hearing Aid Center to learn more. Whether you’re new to hearing aids or are in the market to upgrade your current devices, our team of professionals will talk to you about your lifestyle and your expectations, and fit you with hearing devices that will work for you!