Two major intersecting trends that have emerged over the past few years when it comes to private hearing aids are the development of a new class of over-the-counter models based on other forms of wearable technology and the expansion of the capabilities of hearing aids inspired by the health technology revolution.
Ever since the updated guidance was released that expanded the ability to sell certain types of hearing aids over the counter for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, one possibility that has been increasingly discussed is the development of professional prescription products with the same types of smart features seen in wearable technology.
The Practical Benefits Of Smart Technology
What makes over-the-counter hearing aids possible could potentially be used to make prescription hearing aids even better, without the inherent disadvantages that come with Bluetooth earphones.
Smart hearing aids can use large data models to process and adjust the audio coming into the hearing aid to make it clearer and easier to understand without the need for the user to adjust the hearing aid themselves.
This, alongside much greater compatibility, which comes with the brand awareness of some of the biggest technology companies in the world, has allowed for a greater interoperability between different sources of audio.
However, as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) points out, there are some serious limitations and concerns that come with over-the-counter products, and seeking out an assessment from an audiologist is essential if you are concerned about your hearing and any underlying issues.
Beyond this, there are some more practical problems, such as the fact that you cannot wear conventional earphones all day; even if you find a comfortable pair, they often have a battery life of just a few hours, meaning that they may need to recharge when you need them.
As well as this, they are more visible, although given that everyone wears earphones, perhaps less conspicuous.
Catching The Crest Of A Wave
What is particularly interesting is not necessarily what consumer-grade hardware is adapting from hearing aids, but instead is the lessons that prescription-grade earpieces are taking from the increased awareness of hearing aids.
The ideal solution would be a smart headset capable of providing the same levels of functionality as other wearable technology, such as smart watches, but with the much longer-lasting battery one would expect from a hearing aid.
Some hearing aids can use the hearing functionality along with other sensors to track balance, stability, coordination, and monitor breathing. It can also potentially signal if there are issues with earwax buildup.
Other potential features could include text-to-speech, dictation of notifications and messages, live translation and direct connection to smart devices similar to historic t-coil functionality.
A lot of the most important features, however, involve making hearing aid technology easy to use and easy to integrate into someone’s daily life and easily adjustable to properly correspond to someone’s needs at any given moment.
The advantage of a smart device approach is that audiologists could adjust the settings remotely as and when they need to, rather than relying on an in-person appointment and physical adjustments.
There will need to be further research on the effects of smart hearing aids, but the outlook seems promising for them to become an increasing part of wearable health technology.