Wearing a Hearing Aid - How Times Have Changed

Have you ever thought about how technology has affected a simple thing such as a hearing aid? To be honest, I've never given it much thought, but I discovered times indeed have changed. Fortunately, these little ear gadgets are not the same as what our grandparents wore. Our dear ancestors had to put up with such contraptions that probably weighed in at one pound, wires draped dangerously down their back with the ongoing possibility it may fall off at any given moment. The good news is, the hearing aid of today has been created digitally. Well, why not? We deal every day with digital cameras, cell phones and I-pads so why not how we hear? Digital is definitely better than what used to be around. The neat thing about digital is that it can make one of these devices extremely lightweight but powerful. Some other benefits of a digital product are: More clear speech is detected by the listener. Background noise is not as annoying. The entire experience is much more pleasant and natural. I recently heard about one that is so hidden because it fits deep inside the canal of your ear. They are smaller, more stylish and much more comfortable than they were even just a few years ago. "We've come along way, baby" is not only a catchy TV slogan, but it's the truth where hearing aids are concerned. And what about that old whistling sound? You know the one I'm talking about. You knew immediately who, in the room, was wearing one. We can throw that old, tired noise out the window because the new digital auditory devices have what is called, "automated noise feedback suppression" and very effective filters, which squelch the whistle. No one will ever liken you to Whistler's mother again! I've even heard some say they wouldn't want to wear one because they'd have to remove it each time they answer the phone. This is how it used to be but no longer! The new digital ones are designed to eliminate this annoying process. Remember when your battery went dead without telling you? Most of the time it happened right in the middle of a concert you waited all year to attend or, even worse, at your daughter's wedding ceremony. Not so today! A tiny little programmed feature lets you know when your battery is low so you can plan ahead and never miss a single note or vow ever again. Oh, and one more cool thing about a digital hearing aid is that they eliminate the need to turn it up or down - irritating ongoing adjustments that our grandparents had to deal with, but we don't have to. Today's products will automatically adjust to each person's auditory need level. The only problem I can see you may now have is what to do with your old hearing aid. Maybe you could sell it online. I hear antiques are selling quite well these days.