Hearing aids have become very sophisticated over the years, with features undreamt of just a generation ago. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the advent of wireless connectivity. Thanks to the proliferation of Bluetooth® technology, today’s hearing devices are more versatile than ever, and feature unparalleled sound quality and convenience.
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless communications system that allows a variety of electronic devices, including computers, smartphones and personal audio players, to exchange data – in essence, communicating with one another. When paired with hearing aids, Bluetooth allows the user to stream signals from those devices directly to the hearing aids.
Bluetooth enabled hearing aids include a controller for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from other Bluetooth devices. By sending data through the
wireless spectrum instead of over the airwaves, there is no need for the internal microphone to pick up and amplify sound. The result is clearer, more natural sound. The hearing aid can connect with many different devices including television sets, cell phones, GPS systems and even other medical devices.
Optimizing with Wireless
Wireless connectivity does come with a price: increased power demand. Most hearing aid batteries are tiny and unable to supply enough power for a steady Bluetooth connection. To get around this, assistive listening devices called streamers have been developed. Usually worn around the neck, streamers provide a communication link between devices, picking
up Bluetooth signals and transmitting them to and from hearing aids via an FM signal or electromagnetic field. The streamer works as a personal remote control for your hearing aids, which enables you to change the hearing program, raise or lower the volume and mute the streaming sound – all with the push of a button.
Certain situations require a little extra boost. In public places where large groups congregate – e.g., meetings, lectures, churches, movie theaters, conference rooms and museums – background noise can make it difficult to pick up speech. Wireless FM systems can help. These portable devices come with a microphone that is placed near the speaker for transmitting sounds over radio frequencies, and a receiver that attaches directly to the hearing aids. Because the microphone focuses on the source of the sound, background noise is reduced, and you can better understand speech in noisy environments.
Another wireless option for optimizing your hearing aids in public places is a telecoil, or T-coil. This small copper coil was originally created to boost the magnetic signal from telephone handsets, which amplifies speech and makes it easier to hear. Nowadays, many public places are equipped with hearing loops – wires that encircle a room and transmit sounds electromagnetically. The telecoil picks up these signals, and the user merely needs to turn the t-switch on with no additional equipment. Hearing loops are commonly found in classrooms, theaters, churches and other public places. Infrared systems work in a similar fashion, but use invisible beams of light to transmit sounds, picked up by the T-coil, to a receiver.
Finding the Right Bluetooth-Enabled Hearing Aid
At The Hearing Center, almost every hearing aid we carry has some sort of Bluetooth capability. From classic Bluetooth to ASHA or iOS compatible, there are a range of options available. There are models that connect to smartphones, TVs, microphones, smart apps and more through multiple Bluetooth connections. Our audiologists can help you compare features and find a solution that works with the Bluetooth device you want to use it with.
If you are interested in trying out this Bluetooth hearing technology, schedule a consultation with The Hearing Center at (260) 426-8117.