With so many critical advancements in hearing aids over the past two centuries, it’s no wonder why so many scientists were motivated in their research by loved a one who was hearing impaired. One good example is Alexander Graham Bell, whose mom and wife both suffered from severe hearing impairments. Take a look at some other little-known facts when it comes to hearing aids.

  1. Induction loops were invented to help people hear better in crowds, which can better detect clear announcements in crowded places or in corporate meeting conferences, minus all that background noise and frequency distortion. This can be helpful in airports, stadiums, and other public transportation areas.
  2. Hearing aids and wireless devices go hand in hand today, thanks to state of the art technology like Bluetooth which is responsible sending direct signals from anything from a smart phone to an MP3 player to a TV.
  3. Digital hearing aids have only come out in the last 20 years or so. Their emergence has helped reduce the feedback, echoes, and background noises that can be distracting to users – annoyances that were considered an unfortunate side effect of the older technologies.
  4. Hearing aids don’t just concentrate on the amplification of sound – they actually help with tinnitus therapy for much-needed relief for users suffering from constant ear ringing.
  5. Water resistant and waterproof hearing aids were created to match the active lifestyles of individuals with hearing loss. As such, water resistant hearing aids can withstand low levels of humidity and moisture, and waterproof hearing aids can withstand moisture that may occur as a result of a shower or a jump in the swimming pool.
  6. Hearing aids are the smallest and most compact they’ve ever looked. This is a relief from the large, cumbersome and uncomfortable hearing aids of years past that weighed several pounds. The earliest versions couldn’t even be worn solely on the ear because there were so many components to it, with sub-par sound amplification abilities. Users can now enjoy smaller and lighter weight versions that weigh in at just a few ounces.
  7. Simple sound amplification is not enough for modern hearing aids to be effective. That’s why they now have the capability of enhancing and clarifying sound for a much better listening experience.
  8. Many hearing aids, now manufactured with rechargeable technology to better manage upkeep costs, allow the user to forget about having to replace so many batteries all the time.
  9. A big part of the process of buying a hearing aid is the programming that must take place by a certified audiologist. This helps the hearing aid to automatically revert to the most comfortable settings that the user enjoys, based on previous use and interaction with the surroundings.
  10. Hearing aids used to come in just one color: beige. This helped the hearing aid blend into the ear better. While practical and discrete, today’s young hearing aid wearers are seeking out the bold and beautiful, with devices that come in a rainbow of bright colors. This is one way people can embrace their devices and feel proud.

The good news is, today’s technology is incredibly advanced, even designed to improve your enjoyment of other electronic devices like your television.