History of the Hearing Aid

People in the 19th century were the first to benefit from a hearing aid. While it looked nothing like the models available today, it did amplify sounds and make it easier to hear the conversations and noises all around. Even today, people have Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison to thank for the advances. From there, improvements continued to be made.

Alexander Graham Bell

The invention of the telephone changed the world. He amplified sounds so that individuals could hear each other over the telephone. Just like a modern hearing aid, it had a microphone that increased the sound. This concept was using to create customized devices to help people hear. Many pictures show individuals with a small piece held in one ear and the other hand is attached to the other end of the device that looks a lot like a trumpet. Devices varied in style as well as effectiveness.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison expanded on the idea and figured out how to turn the sound into an electrical signal. Now, people could be greater distances apart because the sound would change into the electrical signal, travel through wires, and then arrive on the other end as sound. The idea of changing sounds is also currently used in devices that help a person hear everything around him.

Commercial Production

Soon companies were looking into creating aides for public consumption. In 1899, the first hearing aid patent was created. The machine was able to amplify sound, convert it, and then turn it back into sound. Its only problem? It was still impractical. It was so large that it had to be left on a table in order for a person to use it. Even with the addition of tubes that made the sound come across more efficiently, it was the battery that kept the device large and inconvenient.

Transistor Aids

Finally in the 1950's, the battery became smaller and an on/off button was created. This was more practical and useful for individuals looking to improve what they hear and its clarity. Some were attached to glasses to be in close proximity to the ear and to give a person more mobility. For years, this was sufficient for individuals needing the help but it still lacked some of the current model's quality and clarity.

Present Day

Technology is continuing to improve. In the 1990's the devices went digital and they became programmable. From there, batteries decreased in size and so the aides also decreased in size. A person can make adjustments to the hearing aid based on the type of sounds he or she is around but there are devices that will do this automatically. As they continue to shrink in size, someone can be wearing one and no one will even notice.