One of the greatest challenges for people with hearing loss is to understand speech in noisy environments such as restaurants and social gatherings. Traditional hearing aids of the past would have to amplify most sounds evenly. Thus, many times the background noise was as loud as the speech. Using filters and frequency responses to adjust were just a few of the limitations of technology at the time.
In recent years, however, major advances in digital signal processing and artificial intelligence have dramatically improved the ability of hearing technology to isolate speech and reduce unwanted noise.
A key breakthrough is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Neural Network’s (DNN)) into modern hearing aids. These systems are trained using thousands of real world sound environments, enabling them to distinguish speech from competing noise. Simply put… instead of amplifying everything, AI-based processors analyze incoming sound in real time and selectively enhance the frequencies associated with human speech… at the same time reducing background noise frequencies. This allows the hearing aid user to follow conversations even in challenging listening situations.
The development of Adaptive Directional Microphones helps the devices to create a “beam” to focus on the person in front of the user. The devices continually adjust the directionality and intensity of the beam depending upon its listening environment. This technology improves the signal to noise ratio and helps users to focus on the conversation they want to hear rather than the annoying background noise.
Many new hearing aids also have environmental classification system processors. These processors recognize different listening situations…classifies types of sounds and environments and learns (because they are smart devices) and automatically switches to optimal settings for the situation that the user is in. Again…this is to improve speech understanding in all situations.
One of my favorite emerging features is Binaural Processing. This is where hearing aids in both ears share the data they are gathering with the other hearing aid wirelessly. So instead of each aid adjusting for the half of the head it sits on…they work more like our brain and process 360 degrees. By sharing the acoustic information with each other it creates a more realistic and natural representation of of sound and it improves the brain’s ability to locate and understand speech in noisy and uncomfortable situations.
One of the very latest advancements in hearing instruments is how they connect to other devices. While Bluetooth connections have always been one-to-one… meaning one phone could connect to one specific hearing aid.. that is now starting to change. Instead of standard Bluetooth we now have hearing instruments that support Bluetooth Low Energy Audio (LE) and Auracast. This allows users to stream audio directly from smartphones, tv’s, or public broadcast systems such as airports and lecture halls. These technologies offer clearer sound while using less battery power making them practical for everyday listening.
So…it goes without saying that modern hearing technology has evolved far beyond simple amplification. All of these advances can drastically improve speech understanding in noisy environments and enhance communication for millions of people with hearing loss.
And the best part? It is already available and proving to be wonderful technology!!
To Hear Better Is To Live Better!! We can help! Give us a call 385-3497 and start on your path to a more enjoyable life!!
By: Roseann B. Kiefer, B.A., BC-HIS