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Hearing aids have come quite a long way since your grandparent’s generation. Advances in technology have allowed for smaller and smaller components, greater connectivity between devices, and better plastics. This has resulted in hearing aids that are sleek, modern, and wired to suit all of your wireless needs.
Modern hearing aids are sturdy, complex machines that are perfect for your modern, active lifestyle. There are many new hearing aid devices on the market that are perfect for keeping an active lifestyle—but it is important to be vigilant about ensuring that your hearing aids are kept clean, dry, and safe from damage. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the great hearing aids available for people like you who are on the move. You can also get some tips on the best ways to maintain your hearing aids.
Innovative Hearing Aid Features
Wireless Connectivity
Many different manufacturers now offer wireless connectivity with their products. American manufacturer Starkey Hearing Technologies offers an excellent made for iPhone hearing aid, the Halo iQ. Its previous iteration, the Halo 2, was awarded the Silver Edison Award in April 2015. Halo iQ provides wearers with wireless connectivity and is one of the world’s first hearing aid devices made for iPhones. Users can connect to iPhones and Apple devices such as the iPod touch, Apple Watch, and iPad by using Starkey’s TruLink App. The Halo iQ can access your iPhone’s GPS, and will create an archive of your preferences for locations you return to frequently, making it easy for you to quickly switch to your preferred settings. Starkey is leading the way in creating devices that make it easier to hear in complex noise environments, and the Halo iQ is able to access your iPhone’s microphone to amplify sounds that you want to hear.
ReSound has also created the LiNX 3D hearing aid that is compatible with iPhones. You can personalize your hearing aid using ReSound’s SureFit features. As with the Halo, you can wirelessly connect the LiNX 3D to the other connectable devices you use; and it is not only capable of connecting to your GPS, but it will archive geo-tagged locations making it easier to adjust your presets when you return to them.
Reliable Construction
Are you a swimmer or athlete who often finds himself around moisture? Hearing aids are now designed with an impressive nanocoating that protects the insides from moisture and other debris. Most hearing aids will provide you with an IP rating. IP ratings measure the degree of protection against debris like dust and sand. The first digit is rated on a scale of 1-7. The second digit of an IP measures the degree of resistance to moisture on a scale from 1-9. Modern hearing aids offer IP ratings above 68, which means they are quite reliable when it comes to protecting your devices from the elements.
Rechargeable Batteries
While most traditional hearing aids use disposable batteries, many manufacturers have heeded the call from consumers for a rechargeable option. These days, you’ll find lithium-ion batteries as the power source of many new hearing aids. Lithium-ion batteries (which also power your laptop and tablets and phones) offer long-lasting energy and short recharging times. Phonak’s Audeo B-R and Unitron’s Moxi All are both popular rechargeable hearing aids, with long battery life that could last up to 24 hours on a single charge.
Tips for Hearing Aid Maintenance
No matter how advanced your hearing aid technology is, weather changes can greatly impact them. Exposure to cold winter air can zap the batteries of your hearing aids and lead to cracked components. On the other hand, the hot and humid temperatures that can accompany spring and summer months can create condensation in your hearing aids that can cause permanent damage.
There are some things you can do to protect your hearing aid devices from environmental concerns. It is a good idea to keep your hearing aids in a cool location, and to keep them out of direct sunlight. Cotton swabs are useful for carefully removing debris such as sand from your devices. If your hearing aids get wet, use a dehumidifier to remove moisture, or place your hearing aids in a bowl of dry, uncooked rice. No matter how you remedy at home, be sure to visit us at Encore Hearing for a proper cleaning.
Visit Us at Encore Hearing
There are many ways to maintain your active lifestyle when you are a hearing aid user. The combination of excellent technology that allow you to integrate your hearing aids with the other devices you use other day, plus the sweat-proof capabilities of many modern hearing aids, means that you will never have to slow down or change who you are while maintaining the best hearing possible. Visit us to learn more about your options.