Hearing loss affects approximately 15% of U.S. adults. If you’re among that number, you know how much hearing loss can take a toll on your daily communication, affecting your family, friends and workplace relationships.
Let’s look at four features hearing aids use to improve your daily communication to strengthen your relationships and overall quality of life.
1. Microphone and Frequency Converter
We measure hearing loss in terms of volume and frequency. For example, you may struggle to hear low-volume, high-frequency sounds like birds singing in Tower Grove Park. All hearing aids have microphones that amplify speech and send it directly to your ears, making it easier to understand sounds that were once faint. They also have a digital converter or processor that adjusts the frequency of the sounds. For example, they’ll take the sound of those singing birds and lower the frequency while amplifying the volume.
2. Directional Microphones
All hearing aids have omnidirectional microphones, which amplify sound equally from all directions, and some also have directional microphones, which amplify speech in front of and behind you. Directional microphones are helpful in busy environments, such as crowded St. Louis restaurants or fun fall festivals. In many devices, you will need to turn on directional microphones through the companion app when you want to use them.
3. Adaptive AI
AI processing is more advanced than ever. It offers different things based on the type of device you purchased, including but not limited to:
- Automatic environment adjustments
- Recognizing and amplifying the voices you hear most often
- Separating speech from background noise
With adaptive AI, which may also use directional microphones, you can enjoy clearer speech, regardless of your environment.
4. Bluetooth®
Bluetooth connects your hearing aids to smart devices like your phone, laptop and tablet. By bringing audio right to your ears, Bluetooth supports clearer conversations during things like phone calls and virtual meetings, allowing you to stay connected without missing a beat.
Schedule Your Treatment Consultation
Clear, easy communication helps reduce misunderstandings, increase productivity and strengthen your relationships—whether with friends, family or coworkers. For more information about the fantastic benefits of these small but mighty devices, contact Center for Hearing & Speech today to schedule a hearing aid consultation.
