Technology & features in Hearing aids

All hearing aids process sound, which means that when sound arrives into the hearing aid, it has to be sectioned into bands of sound (sometimes referred to as "channels") and digitized before it can be amplified. The better the hearing aid, the more flexibility it has to band sounds that are amplified for your unique hearing loss prescription. For example, if you have only high-frequency hearing loss, a better-made hearing aid can amplify only those sounds within that band, whereas a lower-end model might amplify mid- and high-frequency sounds. This customization of the hearing aid is called its frequency response. 

Bluetooth compatibility is a wireless feature that enables hearing aids to connect to mobile phones and other devices like TV, Home Theatre etc. that uses Bluetooth, often through an intermediary device. Bluetooth technology has the ability to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and eliminate feedback from the microphone because the signal bypasses the microphone and directly enters the hearing aid’s processor.

Some premium hearing aids come with artificial intelligence (AI), which allows them to access a deep neural network to process sound. By logging volume control settings and program preferences for certain sound environments, the hearing aids can begin to make these changes automatically when the environment is detected. 

 Most of today's advanced hearing aids come with smartphone apps, allowing the user to make adjustments, contact their hearing care provider, and monitor battery life. Most importantly, some of them work like assistive listening devices, by routing phone calls or other sources of sounds directly to a user's hearing aids. Some also can convert speech into text, and translate different languages.  These Apps also give option of remote programming of hearing aids from the clinics to avoid hearing aid user physically visiting the clinic.

 Increasingly, hearing aids have rechargeable batteries, allowing a person to stop swapping out tiny button batteries every few days or weeks. It's anticipated that these will be widely available with most hearing aid models in the next few years.  

 The most sophisticated hearing aids come with tinnitus masking features. An audiologist or other hearing care provider can program them to emit sounds that mask the tinnitus or ringing in your ears. (But for many people with tinnitus, simply amplifying the sounds you've been missing with a hearing aid can help minimize tinnitus, which often develops when a person experiences age-related hearing loss.) 

Wireless technology allows two hearing aids to operate together as one complete system, instead of acting as two independent devices. The sound input to both hearing aids is shared and decisions about the digital sound processing are based on the combined information. This is known as binaural processing. This technology mimics the brain's ability to process information coming from both ears and helps reduce manual adjustments.

For example, if one hearing aid is being triggered for directional mode, both hearing aids would likely switch into that mode at the same time. The data transfer rates for wireless hearing aids are measured in nanoseconds, which is much faster than human brain can detect. For the wearer, the adjustments are perceived in real time. Sound processing is therefore synchronized between the two hearing aids, thus improving sound quality for the wearer.

In essence, wireless technology improves hearing aids in two ways:

• By improving how hearing aids connect with each other (modern hearing aids can now deliver sound as a collaborative pair, instead of separately)
• By making it easier to connect with the world around you, as well as your favorite devices, like smartphones

A telecoil or tcoil is a wireless feature that picks up electromagnetic signals from compatible telephones or looped rooms. This technology has been available in hearing aids for a very long time. Because the signal of interest is directed to the hearing aid’s processor without using the microphone, telecoil can improve the signal-to-noise ratio while eliminating the potential for feedback. Public performances, tours, exhibits and worship services are commonly made accessible to individuals with hearing loss via telecoil. 

Frequency modulation (FM) compatibility is a wireless feature that enables hearing aids to connect with FM systems, sometimes via a special attachment to the hearing aids called a boot. FM systems can be used alone or with hearing aids. Like telecoil, FM systems improve the signal to noise ratio without causing a feedback loop in the hearing aids. FM compatibility is especially important when selecting hearing aids for children because these systems are commonly used in educational settings to ensure that the teacher’s voice is heard above the clamor of the classroom. 

Directional microphone systems are designed to boost sounds coming from the front of the wearer and reduce sounds coming from other directions. Different system designs block out more or less of the sounds coming from behind the wearer. These systems improve speech understanding in background noise. Satisfaction is higher for hearing aids with directional microphone systems than for hearing aids without them. 

Digital noise reduction systems analyze the signal to determine if it contains unwanted noise. If this unwanted noise is detected, this system reduces the level of noise. This feature makes the background or environmental noise less annoying and increases your listening comfort. Digital noise reduction has been shown to be effective and preferred by hearing aid wearers.  

Similar in purpose to the digital noise reduction, impulse noise reduction improves listening comfort. This system detects any transient loud noises, such as car keys rattling, typing on a keyboard or dishes rattling, and softens them instantly.