Hearing aids are a vital device for many elderly people, who often struggle to hear. The way hearing aids are used has changed dramatically over time as well. Here’s how hearing aids have progressed and what they look like today.
Evolution of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids have evolved dramatically over the years. In fact, it is impossible to imagine a world before hearing aids existed. The devices have changed so much that they now resemble small computers on your ear. Here are a few ways hearing aids have developed over time:
- 18th century: Ear trumpets were made from animal horns and were attached to human heads using leather straps or metal clasps
- 19th Century: Ear trumpets were typically made of copper, brass, or silver and were worn in place of glasses
- 20th century: Bone conduction hearing aids came into use as a result of new technology
- 21st century: Soft ear pieces are becoming more popular because they are more comfortable than traditional hard ear pieces
- 22nd century: Plastic is becoming more commonplace because it creates a better fit for most people
Technological Advancement
Hundreds of years ago, if you started losing your hearing, there were few options available to you. Were you rich enough, you might be able to hire someone to clean out your ear canals of potentially obstructive substances like excess earwax. There are techniques for earwax removal utilizing syringes which stretch back to Rome, for goodness sake.
However, electronic solutions became available toward the end of the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century, associated technology was continuously refined until, as of the twenty-first century, we have solutions in bone conduction hearing augmentation, cochlear implants that can be installed via surgery, and bluetooth options that are increasingly effective.
Technology is so robust as regards audiological options today, you can actually design your own hearing aids. For example, if you’ve got an audio recording device on your smartphone, like the voice recorder app, you can just run the microphone on that while wearing headphones; just be sure you’ve got the “monitor” function activated.
There are actually apps you can download which can turn regular headphones into hearing aids; it will depend on the smartphone and the earbuds you’re using, of course. The point is, today you’ve got options. So how do you narrow things down?
Finding the Best Hearing Augmentation for the Situation
If you’re finding hearing aid solutions for young children born with congenital issues that restrict their ability to hear, you’ll want to explore different alternatives than those for elderly individuals who have lost their previous ability to sense sounds. Granted, there may be crossover, but professionals are important for determining where it is.
The point is, if you’ve got a child born without the ability to hear, and a father-in-law who gradually became deaf, it’s unlikely the two will be able to share hearing aids. They might have that capability, though. Once you find a solution, it’s a good idea to get either party multiple pairs of hearing aids.
Have a pair of hearing aids you use regularly, a pair that is always charging for when the batteries on your primary pair run out, and a backup pair for unexpected emergencies. Also, find a hearing aid brand you like. Oticon hearing aids at Apex Audiology are some of the best available, and are preferred by many struggling with hearing issues.
Audiologists conduct tests to determine what the exact issue you’re dealing with is, and what threshold of hearing impairment you’re contending with. They’ll then help you explore hearing aid brands which will best match your particular needs.
Choosing the Most Qualitative Hearing Aids
You’ve got many options to choose from when it comes to hearing aids today. The key takeaway is, you’ll want to have experts help you determine the best solutions, and you’ll likely want multiple pairs of hearing aids for cases where they either run out of battery, get lost, or get damaged. Explore different brands to find which ones are best for your situation.
Conclusion
They’ve been around for decades, but there’s still a lot you might not know about hearing aids.
Hearing aids are a common part of life for many of us, with over 120 million people in the United States using hearing aids. With so many advancements in the field of hearing aids over the years, it can be hard to know what to expect when it comes to technology. Let’s take a look at the evolution of hearing aids and the changes that have been made to the way they work today.
Hearing aids can help with many different things, including noise pollution, tinnitus and hearing loss. They can also be used to enhance your lifestyle by providing you with a more enjoyable and convenient way of listening to music or watching TV.
