Every now and then I get an email from someone that I really do not feel comfortable enough to talk about. I may have experience but do not have the credentials to really recommend or suggest them. I had a request recently about one of those. I still am not able to recommend or give a very intricate breakdown but I decided to talk about them today. I was asked about the technology of modern hearing aids and I will step out to discuss it. However, keep in mind I am not a doctor of any sort but I have been a "user" for eight-plus years using several different sets over those years.
When I was first told that I needed them it was by my wife. If we were anywhere that had many people talking or background noise, restaurants, I could not hear her talking directly across from me or beside me. She discovered I was using some strange form of lip reading or just nodding or grinning at appropriate moments. I would have the TV volume louder than necessary for her…of course, it was her being silly. (Some of you see yourselves right now, don’t you?)
It only took me two or three years to admit that I had a problem. So off to the hearing aid store I went. From my very little experience I knew I would have this thing in my ear the size of my thumb and when I covered my ear with my hand it would squeal like a banshee but I would not hear it.
First tech thing about them is their size. The ones I got first you could not tell I was wearing the small little devices. A very fine "wire" is all you could see running next to my head over my ear into the canal. To be honest, once I knew what to look for, I started noticing and many people wear them that I had known for years but never seen the aids.
My hearing was drastically improved. The little devices that are totally computerized starting with their setup programming, helped my hearing significantly. Not perfect as when I was 25 but better than it had been in years. I could now hear everywhere.
Next, on the tech side, I believe is a great step up are the batteries. They were very small to fit inside the devices and they were also not horribly expensive. In one case the doc provided them for the first year at no charge. But now they are rechargeable, i.e., no batteries to purchase, ever.
How about connecting your smartphone directly? That is now possible; however, I do not have this feature but would love to. From what I read it is not available with all hearing aid brands and maybe not with all phones. But things change daily. Think about being able to drive down the road going on vacation streaming your audiobook or music into your ears. You can control volume via your phone. But you also get your driving directions through them too. The music stops and you hear the voice reminding you to turn right on Smith Street in 1500 feet.
Even more tech is available that can help with your hearing. If you need it you should definitely check them out. Most companies in the area will give you a free examination. Do not wait like I did as they are not at all like the ear trumpets of old.
