HEARINC stays on top of the latest breakthroughs in the hearing industry. As hearing aids continue to evolve their technology, new features are created and old ones are improved. Hearing devices continue to show steady improvement in the right direction. Finding the right style of hearing aid isn’t the only factor you account for when selecting a device, it’s also critical to find the features you need to support your everyday activities.
Size
Power was the biggest worry the industry had as hearing aids became smaller. Thanks to improvements in hardware processing, smaller hearing aids are just as powerful as their larger counterparts. With a minimal difference in power based on the size of the device, hearing aid styles are now a choice of preference.
In some smaller models, you can find proprietary technology that favors its size. Reduced wind noise and occlusion effects are the two most common benefits. With the rise in smart technology, automatic profile switching will always keep the device optimized with the best settings.
Batteries
Zinc-air batteries are still used, and are the main source of disposable power for a hearing device. Rechargeable batteries are now becoming more common as the power requirements for hearing aids become more complex. A rechargeable battery is consumer friendly, convenient and works better with modern power-saving features. Rechargeable batteries are also a friendlier option for users that have issues handling small items.
Both disposable and rechargeable hearing aids have their own benefits and disadvantages, so just make sure you talk with an audiologist about the option most suited to your specific hearing loss and needs..
Bluetooth
Wireless technology is probably the biggest leap made in the modern hearing aid. The same superior wireless functionality in your smartphone is now available from leading hearing aid manufacturers. Bluetooth allows compatible devices within range to pair in only a few seconds. If you have up-to-date hardware that supports Bluetooth audio streaming, then outputting sound to your hearing aid will be effortless.
Software
Smart technology is tied to the new improvements in software. All of the bells and whistles in modern hearing aids can be customized using a clean UI on your smartphone. For some models this is an optional feature that improves the user experience. For devices that make it mandatory, going over the settings with your audiologist is recommended. Hearing aid software is considered a game changer when paired with the hardware improvements of newer devices. With the ability to customize the hearing device for any environment, wearers can now have full control over their sound experience.