Innovations of modern technology have gifted us with enormous possibilities. While just surviving was a massive struggle in the past, we have come a long way from that. At present, it is possible to lead an everyday life with complicated medical conditions. One of the significant examples could be hearing difficulties. In the past, it could create huge problems and communication gaps between people. But now, with the assistance of a hearing aid, a hearing-impaired person can easily blend in with the crowd. With age, hearing aid technology has evolved significantly, and it continues to grow. The following article will discuss some future forecasts of this technology according to the experts in this area.
Previous Developments
The analog hearing aids were the first to come to light. They were more prominent in size, and the users needed to carry the receiver & transmitter all the time. The transmitters were attached to the body. In a sense, the analog devices were not meant to be used all the time. Many tried to reduce the device’s size, but no significant development came before the technology shifted to digital. As digital hearing aids are smaller in size and are able to provide a better quality of sound, it’s popularity increases day by day. Nowadays, the decreasing size has made it possible to fit a hearing aid within a person’s ear canal. But, the efforts haven’t ended yet. There are researchers out there who are working simultaneously on improving the hearing aid technology to make it more user-friendly.
Potential Upcoming Evolutions
The development of hearing aids is still ongoing. And if the pandemic has taught us anything, we still need much more extensive plans to help those who need it. We have consulted with some well-known researchers in the field. They were very kind to provide us with some forecasts of the industry. Here is a quick peek under the hood for our readers.
Wireless Connectivity
The cutting-edge technology that has blessed hearing aid most recently is remote care (teleaudiology). It has the ability to bring hearing healthcare to a larger audience. Dr. Laurel Christensen, the chief audiologist at GN Hearing, has high hopes in this manner. She expressed the need to explore & develop more in this sector. It’ll help more people to receive quality care, as there are people unable to travel or live miles away from a doctor. She emphasized the benefit of hearing the natural hearing experience. She hopes to achieve the best sound quality in the crowd in the nearest future.
Introducing Smart Algorithms
Many companies out there are trying to improve the quality of sound that a hearing aid can deliver. They are using advanced technology to differentiate the background noise from the actual conversations. Artificial Intelligence can be the next age-changing technology to be introduced in hearing aids. Rachel Allen, a hearing instrument specialist, thinks it’s not too far-fetched to have a device like Google glasses but for ears. It could not only help the patients to hear sounds but also help them with other practical tasks.
Dr. De Wet Swanepoel, a professor at the University of Pretoria, expresses a similar opinion. The intelligent algorithm helps the user to achieve optimum hearing ability. He describes his desire to see the latest technology’s maximized use to help patients with hearing difficulties.
Multifunctionality
The design of hearing aid is gaining more and more attention. As the users have to use the device continually, some additional functions added to it would be pretty helpful. Dr. Janice Vong, an audiologist practicing in the Pacific Northwest, has shown similar concerns. The hearing aid can replace the role of a fitness watch. It can collect the heart rate, brain functionality data and serve its purpose as a hearing aid. Also, detecting and translating a foreign language, monitoring organ malfunction or failure, or contacting the first responders in case of emergency can come in handy.
Moreover, some people tend to turn their hearing aid devices into fashion statements. It often boosts their confidence to interact with others. So in the future, there may be a vast collection of devices to choose from.
Battery Improvements
During the pandemic, many people faced the problem of not purchasing the batteries of their hearing aids. Many companies are manufacturing rechargeable batteries for hearing aids. While some emphasis on producing low energy consuming hearing aids. Solar-powered batteries are being considered highly in this manner too. These factors were highly mentioned by Alice Turner, a product design student. With the changing environment, the demand for custom-made hearing aids increased simultaneously. And everyone is looking for a steady solution for battery trouble. These concerns are being addressed highly, and in the future, we can expect to have the answer.
Hearing aid technology has been in flux constantly. The environment has shifted significantly from then, and the development has taken several steps. So, it is expected to walk some more miles till it reaches the destination. And we are eagerly waiting to see where the time will take this technology.