Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide, and as technology advances, so do the solutions designed to enhance auditory experiences. Modern hearing instruments have evolved beyond simple amplification devices…incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), Bluetooth connectivity, noise reduction, and even health-monitoring features. These are cutting-edge capabilities and they are improving the quality of lives for individuals with hearing impairments. These advancements reduce background noise and make conversations clearer. This technology integrates seemingly into everyone’s lives.
Artificial Intelligence is one of the most significant advancements in today’s modern hearing instruments. AI powered hearing aids analyze soundscapes in real time and automatically adjusts settings to optimize hearing. These devices can actually learn user preferences and adapt to various daily situations. Perhaps you are in a noisy restaurant. Perhaps a hot spot with a band and very poor acoustics. Maybe you are more of a stay at home kind of person with soft background noises. Maybe you only get out and about every once in a while. Yes. AI adapts and works. It is simply amazing. These smart devices; the Starkey Edge AI use many processors, gyroscopes to learn head position…thus who you are looking at… who you are trying to hear, and a deep neural network to process sounds in a way that actually mimics how the auditory process in our brain. The end result is enhanced speech clarity in all environments as well as a reduction of listening effort.
Modern hearing aids are no longer standalone devices. They are Bluetooth and fully integrated in our world. They allow users to connect and understand better while making phone calls, using computers and watching television. Technology is coming full circle in trying to incorporate every possible listening environment. They have advanced noise reduction algorithms that filter out background noise while focusing on speech. Advanced directional microphones help to focus on speech and further enhance the ‘speech to noise ratio.’
Modern hearing instruments also utilize rechargeable lithium-Ion batteries. Completely sealed; some hearing instruments are totally waterproof. Starkey’s Edge and Genesis hearing instruments boast 3-4’ for up to 45 minutes. That is very impressive. With the new battery packaging for “button type” cell making life more that difficult to get that little battery out of the pack (you now need side cutters)… rechargeable hearing instruments are a welcome advancements.
Another major advancement is Tinnitus management systems that are built into hearing instruments. Millions of people are effected by ringing, clicking, chirping, music.. many different types of head noises. These therapy systems include sound therapy programs and masking to give the patient some relief.
One of my favorite features of Starkey’s Edge Hearing instruments are their health monitoring capabilities. The patient can set goals for various exercise type activities. There is now balance assessment with a complete battery of simple exercises to complete to make you stronger and more stable.
The relationship between hearing & balance and falling have been studied and documented for years. People with ‘untreated” or under treatment’ of hearing loss are at an increased risk of falling. On average, people who are not correcting their hearing loss properly are at a 4 times greater risk of falling. Patients who utilize smart phones with their hearing instrument have the ability to have fall detection in some hearing instruments. Starkey was the first company to release fall alert in their hearing instruments in December of 2018. Since that release they are fine tuned this wonderful feature. If a patient falls.. the devices will send a “fall alert” to up to three predetermined contacts with location information. Yes.. built right into the hearing instruments. No need to wear the loop around your neck.
The future of hearing instruments is obviously very promising. As numbers of hearing impaired increase and at a younger age there will be a great demand for technology that delivers. Patients will want the best speech understanding possible in an ever increasingly noisy world. We will want hearing aids to react to seamlessly with our daily lifestyle. Engineers are really just starting to starting to chip the tip of the iceberg. Hearing instruments will improve our communications with other, help us to reach physical goals and maintain cognitive function.
If you are above the age of 50 then it is advised that you get a comprehensive hearing evaluation… even if you are not having any hearing difficulties. Hearing Health baselines are important to monitor cognitive function and calculate prescriptive needs for hearing correction.
We are here to help. To Hear Better Is To Live Better!
By: Roseann B. Kiefer, B.A., BC-HIS