It’s not uncommon for people to have an outdated idea of what hearing aids can do. The truth is, that hearing aid technology has continued to evolve and improve throughout the years, providing greater benefits to those with hearing loss.
Four Helpful Hearing Aid Features
- Directional microphones amplify sounds coming from the front of the user and reduce noise coming from other directions. They make it easier to follow conversations in places with background noise, like when you’re out to dinner with your spouse at Roma Italian Bistro in Ruston. A 2016 study examining the effects of directional microphones found that “directional microphone processing effectively reduced the cognitive load of listening to speech in background noise.”
- Bluetooth compatibility enables hearing aids to connect to your smartphone and other devices. It allows you to stream sound from your device directly into your hearing aids. This makes activities like phone calls, Zoom meetings and even listening to music easier and more enjoyable by eliminating feedback and providing clearer sound quality.
- Hearing aid apps let you adjust your hearing aids, contact your audiologist or hearing specialist and monitor your battery all from your smartphone. Additionally, some have the ability to route phone calls directly into your device or covert speech to text.
- Rechargeable batteries allow users to not have to deal with the hassle of changing out disposable batteries every 3-10 days or having to carry extra batteries with them when they leave the house. This can be especially helpful for people with dexterity issues, as hearing aid batteries are quite small and may be difficult to hold. Instead, you can place your hearing aids in their charging station at night and wake up to a full day of battery power.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aids for You
Not all hearing aids come with the features mentioned above. If you are especially interested in one or several of these features, talk with your audiologist about your options. The process of choosing a hearing aid, whether it’s for the first time or as an upgrade, is a personal one and depends on many factors. By sharing what’s most important for you in a hearing aid, your audiologist can help you find the right pair to improve your listening experience and offer you the most user satisfaction.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the experts at Advanced Audiology & Hearing Aids today.
