It seems like all our devices are getting stronger, smarter, and smaller. Taking up less space while doing more is the general trend.
So it’s no surprise that hearing aids are no exception. The world’s population is getting older and hearing problems, though they can have many different causes, are more common among older individuals. According to the National Institutes of Health, around 37.5 million individuals and 3 million Canadians report having trouble hearing, and because age is a stronger predictor of hearing loss than any other demographic variable, that number is likely to increase.
Naturally, if you’re dealing with hearing loss, even one person with difficulty hearing, i.e. you, is one person too many. Are there any better ways to manage hearing loss? Let’s have them! Here are some of the innovations that are in the works.
Whole-Body Tracking Through Your Hearing Aids
This one seems like it should be obvious. Devices that provide different kinds of health tracking are nearly always worn and have to be worn on the body. So, if you’ve already got a device that’s in your ear… do you really need a separate one on your wrist? Nope! If you have the latest hearing aid, it probably can track your pulse, physical activity along with fixing hearing problems like tinnitus. Sure, a wearable like an Apple Watch can do that, but hearing aids can offer you other kinds of input that can be helpful to tracking health, like how much time you spend having conversations or listening. Particularly as you get older, your level of social involvement can actually be a key health metric.
Data Streaming
Virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri have quickly moved from smartphones to in-home devices and the principal emphasis here is connectivity. Some hearing aids that offer Bluetooth capabilities now allow users to stream audio directly from a device, like a smart TV for instance, to the hearing aids. Android developers now have open-source specs supplied by Google which allows them to use certain Bluetooth channels to stream uninterrupted audio straight to your hearing aid. This technology is making things like movies and music more satisfying by acting like super-powered wireless headphones.
Smart Adjustments From Big Data
Similar to how Netflix recommends shows and movies according to what you’ve watched previously, or your Fitbit buzzes to let you know you’ve reached a milestone (or okay, let’s say stepping stone, depending on how committed your daily step goals are), your next hearing aid could make personalized suggestions. The places you visit and the adjustments you make will allow these new hearing aids, being manufactured by a few brands, to learn your behaviors. Some go as far as to crowdsource data about people’s utilization habits, making it anonymous then aggregating it. All this info enables the hearing aids to figure out your preferences and make adjustments on the fly so that whether you’re at home watching TV or you’re at an IMAX theater (for example), you’ll get the best sound.
Eliminating The Batteries For Good
Hearing aids that don’t require their batteries replaced? Sound too good to be true? It can be really inconvenient making sure you have extra batteries or that your hearing aids are fully charged. While we’re not likely to see hearing aids that don’t need any batteries, there has been a consistent advancement in rechargeable technology. That means longer in-use time, faster recharging, and less worrying about batteries, overall, not too bad.