With hearing loss being the third most common health issue in the country, most Americans will require hearing aids at some point in their lifetimes. However, you no longer have to worry about clunky, outdated hearing aids cramping your style. The latest hearing aids are anything but. Modern hearing aid technology has many advantages to offer.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest hearing aids.

1. There are styles for everyone

Finding the right hearing aids for your needs has never been easier. There are now a multitude of styles to suit your needs, whatever they may be. You no longer have to wear behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids that are big and obtrusive. Your audiologist has options fromamong in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids that are custom made to fill your ear; in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids that fill less than half the ear;completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, which are the tiniest devices on the market and fit deep in the ear canal; or receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing devices, where the processor and microphone sit in a little case behind the ear while the speaker sits in the ear canal.

2. They do more than amplify sounds

Analog hearing aids of the past were created with one goal: to amplify sounds. But due to the rise of digital technology, the latest hearing aids can do so much more than just make sounds louder for the user. For example, some hearing aids use directional microphones to help pinpoint the speech that you want to hear and controlthe background noises that you want to ignore. Noise reduction technology and impulse reduction technology also soften the many annoying sounds around you that distract from speech, such as the rattling of car keys or the sounds of street traffic.

3. You can stay connected

Hearing aidsnow feature Bluetooth technology options, allowing you to stay better connected through wireless signals to the devices that you love. The latest hearing aids are compatible with many common devices, such as smartphones, MP3 players, home telephones, and televisions, so you never have to miss a beat. You can hear conversations on the phone without having to hold the phone to your ear, and you can listen to your favorite television shows on your TV or laptop without having to wear headphones or disrupt those around you.

The latest hearing aids are smarter than ever before, giving you greater control over the sounds in your environment.

4. They’re nearly invisible

The large, less sophisticated hearing aids of the past werea common reason for objection among people with hearing loss. But today’s hearing aids are smaller and less noticeable than those of the past. Many devices can be placed directly in the ear, with the visible part of the device beingdiscreet, so no one has to know that you have hearing loss if you don’t want them to know.

5. They’re more durable 

In the past, users had to take extra special care of their hearing aids. Any dirt or moisture could ruin them, making them unusable. But now, hearing aids are designed with more secure andshock-resistant cases to protect them from contact with dust, dirt, humidity, perspiration, and water in everyday life. You’ll still need to take care of your hearing aids, but shock-resistant cases can increase lifestyle options for those with hearing loss and reduce stress and worry.

Though the latest hearing aids are less noticeable now, they’re also more powerful and effective than the hearing aids of the past. To discuss your options and learn more about the latest hearing aids and the many features you can choose from, request an appointment with a doctoral-level audiologist at Associated Audiologists today.

{{cta(‘e4c5035f-2ed3-4a3e-b446-021cd0507e1d’)}}