Pablo Luna
Losing your hearing later in life can be a rude awakening, and it is arguably a very different experience than being born without the capacity to access one of the five senses. Millions of people lose their hearing as they get older, and while technology has advanced a great deal, it still feels as though there’s a long way to go. Hearing aids are helpful and for some, essential, but they can also prove to be troublesome since they don’t translate certain frequencies, and some others find them uncomfortable. However, there are a few techniques and interesting technological innovations that could help improve things for millions of people. The following are some of the most exciting and innovative solutions currently available that can be enormously beneficial to anyone suffering from hearing problems.
Hearing Aids
A solar-powered hearing aid sounds like something from the future, and in some ways, it is. It is a cut above the rest in terms of cost and availability, and the hope is that it will be a technology that becomes more widely available to a large portion of the population soon. The battery in a solar-powered hearing aid costs much less than traditional batteries and can last for at least two or even three years. Traditional hearing aid batteries only last one week. So these are available at excellent rates and will be accessible to more people regardless of their financial means soon.
Phone Calls Will Become Easier
One of the hardest things about being hearing impaired or having to deal with more hearing problems is that you can’t simply pick up the phone call anymore and have a conversation, or reach out for help. A cell phone amplifier is one of the best tools to hit the market as of late, and it’s been reported to make a huge difference in the quality of life of many people. Talking on your cell is something that is easy to take for granted, but for those with hearing problems, they are fully aware of how difficult it has made their life. This new and handy tool is a game-changer and a practical solution to one of the more troublesome and run-of-the-mill problems you can run into.
Advancements in Bluetooth Technology
Bluetooth technology has advanced tremendously in the past few years, and it’s a bit of a godsend for people with hearing problems. This is because new smartly designed apps make it easier to capture spoken language on a tablet or smartphone, converting it into text, and then send it via BlueTooth to a remote user’s device. This could be a game-changer especially for those who lost their hearing and ability to speak later in life and do not have the capacity to learn sign language. This allows for them to take control of their speech patterns and communicative abilities, however, limited, and build on them in a practical and streamlined way so that they may express their thoughts and needs to others. Anything that can capture speech and convert it into text, and vice versa, will help to make things far easier for people dealing with hearing problems.
Notification Systems
Another smart technological solution to a common problem people with impaired hearing can benefit from is specially designed notification systems. Things like doorbells, alarm clocks, or wristwatches that typically use sound to signal that something is up can now make themselves known using flashing lights or vibration. This latest innovation is from the school of assistive listening devices, which, when used in conjunction with hearing aids, for example, can help, can help improve hearing a great deal. They also improve one’s awareness of their environment and any signals or cues that might come up and could otherwise be missed, putting them in harm’s way. Imagine a smoke detector using flashing lights instead of sound: this is one key way in which the safety of someone who is hearing impaired can be helped tremendously. They are especially useful to people who need to remove their hearing aid at night since the devices tend to be uncomfortable. Without these specialized notification systems, they have no way of knowing whether or not their environment is truly safe.
Television Headsets
It can be difficult for those struggling with hearing problems to accurately ascertain the volume of their devices or televisions when trying to watch something on their own. In this regard, infrared television headsets – also known as television streamers – allow you to adjust the volume without bothering others. With these cool devices, there’s no need to turn on the television and keep it at sonic boom levels ever again.
While hearing loss is a profoundly difficult transition for many, it is important to remember that it can be treated and managed. It is worth taking the time to research and find the right interventions for you or your loved one. The technology – while still far from perfect – continues to evolve, and there is bound to be something out there that will help someone in need.
