3 Incredibly Cool Things You Can Do With Modern Hearing Aids

Hearing aids have evolved in leaps and bounds in recent years. Today's hearing aids can do some incredibly cool things ― and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

The first hearing aid ― known colloquially as an ear trumpet ― was invented way back in the 17th century. There wasn't much to it, as you might expect, being little more than a large funnel that collected and concentrated sound. We've come a very long way since then. 

Modern digital hearing aids are almost unrecognizable compared even to early electronic devices. Although they're still highly sophisticated medical devices, they're also designed to be completely user-friendly. Even better, they're packed with a ton of awesome features, the likes of which early hearing aid manufacturers could only dream. 

Today, we're going to go over some of the most fascinating and show you three of the coolest things you can do with modern hearing aids.

Understand Any Language With Real-Time Translation

Unsurprisingly, some of the most fascinating advances in hearing aid technology involve artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The most common usage of this technology involves amplification. Built-in algorithms help the hearing aid adjust and adapt to environmental conditions, providing unmatched sound quality and clarity. This allows the user to adjust to even the most challenging listening situations with ease and without having to pull the hearing aid out or fiddle with the volume via an app.

That isn't the incredible part, though. 

In a move that sounds like it was taken directly from the pages of a science fiction novel, some hearing aid manufacturers have been building real-time language translation directly into their devices. Once the hearing aid has been configured with a preset language, it then uses artificial intelligence to automatically and seamlessly translate speech to that language.

It doesn't stop there, though. Via a companion app, you can even communicate back, speaking into your phone and then showing your companion a text translation of your words. It's like having your own personal translator tucked into your pocket (and ear) at all times.

Monitor and Improve Your Physical Health

At least until someone manages to figure out how to get people interested in something like Google Glass, anyway. Fitness tracking gadgets are anything but perfect, though.

For one, you need to actually remember to put them on before leaving the house. That might not sound like much of an issue, but it can be an absolute nightmare for people who struggle with their memory or attention span. Wrist-worn trackers aren't always 100% accurate, either, especially when it comes to heart rate and step count. 

What if you could take all the features of a fitness tracker and shove them into a hearing aid? That's precisely what some manufacturers have started doing. This offers several considerable benefits over standard fitness tracking tools: 

• More accurate movement tracking

• Better heart rate monitoring

• Worn more reliably/consistently

• Reduced likelihood of failure due to insufficient charge

Connect Yourself to Your Smart Home

AI-powered speakers. Intelligent kitchen appliances. Smart TVs. 

These, we're surrounding ourselves with smart tech. And it's made our lives both more connected and convenient. However, most of us have stopped just short of wrapping ourselves into our smart homes. 

Modern hearing aids are changing that.

Through companion applications and Bluetooth functionality, most newer hearing aids are capable of directly interfacing with everything from televisions to alarm clocks to doorbells to baby monitors. It's sort of a natural next step from hearing aids that are capable of answering and managing calls on your smartphone. 

Rather than simply augmenting your hearing, these hearing aids give you a level of connectivity and integration that people without hearing aids have yet to experience. 

You'll be able to hear your doorbell from the basement. Listen to your TV as loud as you desire without disturbing anyone. Receive instructions and notifications directly through your hearing aid. 

It's enough to make a person feel like a real-world cyborg.

What The Future May Hold

The technology we've discussed here is both fascinating and exciting. But it's safe to say that it's also only the beginning as far as hearing aid technology is concerned. As audiology continues to evolve, we're going to see even more fascinating, interesting, and mind-blowing innovations. 

The future of hearing aid technology, in other words, is brighter than it's ever been.