If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, then, typically, the most common approach to treatment is to fit you with a pair of hearing aids. While it’s important to choose the right devices largely based on your level of hearing loss, there are also a host of features that can suit your lifestyle and the kind of activities you like to get involved with. Here, we’re going to look at some of those features, what benefits they offer, and whether or not they might suit you.
Noise Reduction
If you’re a person who spends a lot of time in busy or unpredictable environments, then being able to hear effectively against the noise can be important. Noise reduction technology not only prevents you from being subject to a barrage of noises, but it is also able to intelligently focus on picking up and amplifying more worthwhile signals, such as speech aimed towards you. By reducing unwanted background noises, you can converse more clearly and avoid the fatigue of having to strain to listen, especially in places like cafes, crowds, or against the wind. Advanced systems can also adapt in real time as your surroundings change, offering seamless transitions between quiet and noisy settings.
Directional Microphones
If you’re a person who talks to others often, especially in settings outside of the home, such as at the office, directional microphones could be a useful feature for you. These features often work in tandem with noise reduction, so while surrounding noise is being reduced, you’re able to specifically amplify noise from the direction that you’re facing. This can be very useful in more challenging audio environments such as restaurants, meetings, or group settings. Some advanced hearing aids even use multiple microphones that can adjust smartly depending on where they detect speech from, with others allowing you to “steer” their direction using an app. This can be highly valuable for those who frequently find themselves in social or professional interactions.
Speech Enhancement
While devices can have features to help your hearing aids pick up speech, ensuring that you’re able to better understand is important, as well. As such, there are advanced speech enhancement technologies that can identify and process speech, offering not just amplification but greater clarity. They do this by picking up speech frequencies using advanced algorithms and filtering out unwanted noise. These devices are typically able to pick up even the most precise shifts in sounds, such as pitch and note duration, to adjust in real-time, meaning that you don’t lose track of conversations as easily as you might otherwise. Given that difficulty in hearing speech is often one of the first problems people have with their hearing, this can be highly helpful.
Bluetooth Streaming
A lot of hearing aids come with the ability to link up to smartphones and other devices using Bluetooth. Often, this can be used to access phone apps that allow you to adjust your hearing aid and program it based on your preferences and surroundings. However, Bluetooth hearing aids have also become popular for their ability to directly stream audio from other devices, whether it’s phone calls, music, podcasts, navigation directions while driving, and more. With a little setup, you can enable them to seamlessly switch between your smartphone, tablet, TV, and other devices. Aside from better allowing you to hear from the devices you own, it can also allow hands-free phone calls, improving convenience as well a clarity.
Waterproofing And Weather Resistance
Most hearing aids are vulnerable to moisture and water. As a leading cause of device malfunction, this can be a major concern for those who live an active lifestyle or spend a lot of time outdoors. If you’re worried about sweat or rain getting into your hearing aids, then it’s worth looking at the pros and cons of waterproof aids. It’s important to learn the difference between levels of protection, as well as water-resistant hearing aids tend to be effective at protecting against light levels of moisture, like sweat or light rain. Waterproofing is typically more expensive but offers highly protective coatings that can withstand heavy rain or being worn during intense activities. Neither type is designed to be regularly submerged or worn in the shower, however, so be aware of the limits of whichever hearing aid you get.
Health Tracking Features
Telehealth features are becoming a lot more popular, with devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers helping people manage their health and fitness levels. Now, artificial intelligence is bringing those same benefits to hearing aids. Hearing aids can include sensors that are able to track activity, which can help improve your motivation and encourage you to live a healthier life, or might even include automatic fall detection features, which can send out alerts to emergency contacts or a loved one. This can be important for older people or those with physical disability who might need help without delay in the event of a fall.
Rechargeable Batteries
The vast majority of hearing aids use disposable batteries, which eventually need to be replaced. This can start to be a problem, especially if you find yourself caught without batteries when your old ones run out of energy or even malfunction due to the cold. Rechargeable hearing aids can eliminate the need for batteries entirely. These devices typically come with a charging dock and a cable, allowing you to plug them in and recharge them, usually when you’re sleeping or if you’re taking them out while using the bathroom. It’s still best to have a spare pair of hearing aids ready to switch to in case your rechargeable ones run out of power or malfunction, but it can save you considerable money and effort in the long run.
It’s worth noting that each of the features above does typically add to the price of the device, so it’s important to be mindful of your budget. You may need to prioritize some features over others, so knowing which are going to best suit your needs ahead of time can help narrow down your choices.
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