What to Look for in Modern Hearing Aid Technology

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Hearing aids have changed significantly since the 80s and 90s; these days, modern devices are equipped with some of the most remarkable technology to enhance the user experience and make them a tool that genuinely offers many benefits to people’s lives.

If you’re in the market for new hearing aids and want to know what the best tech to look for is, we have a few features worth checking out for your next hearing aid upgrade.

Bluetooth Connectivity for Phone and TV Streaming

Bluetooth hearing aids connect directly to your smartphone or your TV or audio device and allow you to stream audio directly into the ears without needing a separate headset or extra volume boost through speakers.

This makes phone calls clearer since the audio comes through both ears directly, rather than being held to one side, and it also removes the need to crank up the TV volume to a level that bothers others around you.

Some devices even allow you to stream from more than one source at a time, meaning a phone call can interrupt TV audio automatically and then switch back once the call is finished so you don’t need to manually change any settings.

Rechargeable Batteries

This is an absolute game changer for hearing aids. Some newer devices come with rechargeable batteries, meaning you don’t need to make sure you have an endless stream of batteries on you. And if you are away from home longer than anticipated, you can simply recharge without needing to find new batteries if you run low.

Typically, hearing aids that you can charge last a full day depending on how much you use them on a single charge, and some offer a quick top-up option for an extra few hours when needed unexpectedly. If you have limited dexterity, this is a particularly useful feature as it removes the need to mess around with small, fiddly batteries.

Background Noise Reduction

Noise reduction in hearing aids is achieved via the use of directional microphones to allow users to distinguish between speech and background noise.

In a busy environment, this makes it much easier to follow a conversation. If you work in louder environments or frequent places that require you to take in everything going on around you, this is a welcome feature. For those working in retail, for example, or who have family and friends around frequently and need to follow conversations, upgrading to hearing aids with background noise reduction can be massively beneficial.

Companion Apps for Adjusting Settings

A companion app lets you adjust volume, switch between listening programs and fine-tune settings directly from a phone rather than needing to physically handle small buttons on the device itself. The apps connected to hearing aids can vary depending on the devices and their capabilities, but you can expect to be able to access features such as location-based memory, automatically switching settings for a specific place or environment like work and home, fine-tune the device as required for any changes and track the battery health and report any damage or concerns with the hearing aid too.