Keep an eye on these developments in the new year.
As technology continues to advance, each year brings new developments and devices, all aimed at making life easier. That includes technology and new options for people with hearing loss!
There several new hearing loss treatments and technology advancements that can provide different benefits for people with hearing loss, from helping existing devices connect with smartphones to improving the sound quality of hearing aids.
Here are just a few of the hearing loss treatments and technology advancements that will likely make waves in the coming year:
- Hearing aid sound clarity improvement
- Cochlear implant updates
- Increased Bluetooth capabilities
- Rechargeable batteries
- New CapTel options
For more details on these recent and emerging advancements in hearing loss technology, keep reading!
Hearing aid sound clarity improvement
A big leap in new hearing loss treatment and technology is with hearing aids, and newer models of hearing aids can provide users with even better results. For example, some hearing aids are now customizable to the shape of the user’s ear canal, which improves comfort and usability.
Another benefit is increased sound clarity. With these newer technologies, sounds are crisper, and it can be easier to hear quieter noises. If you use hearing aids and are thinking about upgrading, talk to your audiologist about the new technology options available!
Cochlear implant updates
One of the most helpful features of most cochlear implants is that they can be updated, meaning that cochlear implant users can benefit from advances as technology continues to improve. Updates are possible as the cochlear processor is housed externally, allowing for software updates without needing to remove the entire device.
Increased Bluetooth capabilities
As the Bluetooth capabilities on our smartphones increase, they also improve for hearing aids and other wireless audio enhancement devices. You may have even noticed expanded accessibility features on your phone or TV as well — these are all welcome new hearing loss-friendly adaptations in the tech world. With these increased technologies, you’re able to pair assistive listening devices to your phone, tablet, or TV and have clearer listening options available to you!
Rechargeable batteries
While the concept of rechargeable batteries isn’t new, in practice, it’s a great leap forward in the latest hearing loss treatment and technology arena. Larger rechargeable batteries have been around for a while, but smaller batteries, like those for hearing aids, haven’t been on the market that long. Now, you’re able to use rechargeable batteries for those smaller devices as well. Not only does it give you peace of mind to know that you’ll be able to recharge quickly, but it’s environmentally friendly too!
New CapTel options
CapTel technology continues to advance as well. The CapTel 2400i now includes a new, more powerful speakerphone and meets TIA-4953 standards for high-quality amplification. Now people with hearing loss can enjoy hands-free conversations with the benefit of captions. New advances in captioning technology also give CapTel users more choices, including between fully-automated Auto Captions or enhanced operator-Assisted Captions. To learn more, visit our Choosing a Phone page.
This is just a short list of exciting trends in hearing loss treatments and technology that we anticipate seeing in 2023 and beyond. Check out a few other resources for further reading here, or visit the CapTel blog for more hearing loss resources, like our top hearing aid blog posts!
