5 things you didn’t know hearing aids could do
what if you were told some of the trendiest, most advan...
2 minute read
“there is pretty much no situation you can't participate in if you have the right devices,” says jillian price, chief audiologist with hearinglife canada. getty images
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hearinglife canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
what if you were told some of the trendiest, most advanced, and most interesting audio technology on the market today comes in the form of hearing aids?
intrigued? surprised? all of the above?
well, it’s true.
today’s hearing aids are at the vanguard of advanced audio, and they’re changing the game for many of the estimated 4.6 million canadians with significant hearing loss.
digital audio, sound isolation and several other technologies are replacing analogue tech and pushing the industry to new heights. here are a few surprising features you might not know hearing aids are equipped with.
1. they can pair with your smart devices
bluetooth and other wireless technology allows hearing aids to access the audio feed from your cellphone, tablet, computer or smart tv.
sound is transmitted directly to the hearing aids, with clear digital audio — perfect for listening to music, taking phone calls or having video chats.
“there is pretty much no situation you can’t participate in if you have the right devices,” says jillian price, chief audiologist with hearinglife canada, a coast-to-coast network of hearing clinics.
2. they store data and engage in self-learning
a hearing aid is like a mini-computer that memorizes its own settings in various scenarios.
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you can access these programs automatically or at the touch of a button when you enter a familiar environment — say, a noisy restaurant or a jazz concert.
“there’s specific programs to reduce wind noise so that you don’t hear the wind when you’re out on the golf course,” says price. “for musicians, there’s specialized music programs to improve the fidelity of the sound.”
3. they automatically adjust volumes
hearing aids can detect noise levels in almost any environment and intelligently adjust themselves.
even more impressive: some hearing aids can separate sound into different tonal regions to selectively maximize speech while reducing background noise.
today’s hearing aids can pair with your smart devices and more. getty images
4. they can wirelessly recharge their own batteries
in many ways, modern hearing aids are similar in size, form and function to wireless earbud headphones.
this includes charging options. some models use a wireless charging pod to restore battery power overnight.
“technology is available to everybody,” says price. “and what fits your budget, and your lifestyle is all at your discretion.”
5. they use white noise to help treat tinnitus
tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss that manifests as buzzing or ringing in the ears. this unnecessary noise can make it hard to focus on conversations and other daily tasks.
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but modern hearing aids can help to mask the effects of tinnitus by generating white noise or other ambient sound to cover up the ringing sensation.
though stigma around hearing aids remains a significant barrier, technology is gradually changing that.
“if you have hearing loss, there is a medical device that can help you,” says price. “it’s a hearing aid!”
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of hearinglife canada.
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