Hearing aids have advanced dramatically over the past 10-15 years.
As each year passes, hearing aids become smaller, more discreet, and more reliable at enhancing sound. They also come equipped with a number of sophisticated features, including the ability to connect to other gadgets wirelessly, which is what we’ll be going over today.
Here’s how wireless technology works and how you can benefit.
How Bluetooth technology works
Bluetooth is a standardized wireless communication platform that makes it possible for devices to communicate with each other through radio waves. A wide variety of products incorporates Bluetooth technology, including smartphones, portable music players, tablets, computers, and televisions.
Have you ever witnessed someone talking on their phone using a hands-free wireless headset? Or somebody taking a call from their cell phone using their car audio system? That’s Bluetooth technology in action.
So can you purchase a Bluetooth hearing aid?
Yes and no. Bluetooth technology requires a greater power supply than can be offered by hearing aid batteries. But there is a workaround, and in fact, there are two.
Your options for wireless hearing aids
Hearing aids do not integrate Bluetooth technology directly because, as we mentioned, it would consume the battery too quickly. Fortunately, manufacturers solved this problem long ago by creating an intermediary between the hearing aid and the Bluetooth device (computer, TV, phone, etc.). This intermediary is known as either a “streamer” or an “assistive listening device.”
Here’s how it works: your Bluetooth enabled cell phone communicates wirelessly to the streamer which then transmits the signal to the hearing aid without depleting the battery.
So, if you’re in the market for wireless hearing aids, you have two principal options:
- Hearing aids combined with an assistive listening device – as outlined above, the assistive listening device, or streamer, which is a small hand-held device, acts as an intermediary between the Bluetooth device and the hearing aid.
- Made for iPhone hearing aids – several hearing aid models are labeled as “Made for iPhone,” which in essence means that the iPhone acts as the streamer itself, communicating directly with the hearing aid.
Your hearing care expert can help you decide which choice is right for you.
The benefits of wireless hearing aids
Whether using a Made for iPhone hearing aid or a streamer, there are multiple benefits to going wireless, including:
- Better music listening experience – imagine streaming your favorite music from your iPhone or handheld music player directly to your hearing aids. In this way, your hearing aids transform into a pair of top-quality earbuds.
- Hands-free phone calls – answering phone calls with no hands is more convenient and having the audio stream straight to the hearing aids provides better sound quality.
- Crisper TV sound – streaming the audio from your computer, tablet, or TV leads to clearer sound and enhanced speech comprehension from movies and TV shows. You’ll never struggle to follow dialogue again.
- Enhanced gym experience – listen to your favorite podcasts or music at the gym without any wires getting in the way.
- Personalized control – inconspicuously adjust your hearing aid settings and volume by utilizing your wireless remote control or iPhone (with compatible models).
- Connection to hearing loops – hearing aids equipped with telecoils can connect with hearing loop systems in public venues like auditoriums, movie theaters, and courts.
Considering upgrading to wireless hearing aids? Contact us today for additional information.