Hearing aid technology developments

Question 1

What are the four features of hearing aids which are likely to see improvements in the future?

Answer 1

1. Battery power
2. Better sound processing (especially in noise)
3. Hearables
4. Targeted/ directional sound delivery

Question 2

What are some of the features that would be present in an ideal hearing aid battery?

Answer 2

Long lasting, durable, non bulky, rechargeable, easy to buy, cost effective, easy to insert and remove, safe

Question 3

Compare lithium ion and silver-zinc rechargeable batteries

Answer 3

-Silver-zinc batteries last less than 30 hours per charge and last approximately 1 year, lithium ion batteries last 30 hours use per charge and last appropriately 1 year
-Silver-zinc batteries are easy for the patient to replace, lithium ion are difficult to replace
-Silver-zinc have a high cost
-Lithium ion use flammable chemicals and can overheat and explode if charged too fast but silver-zinc have decreased performance at low temperatures

Question 4

What are the main areas for improvement in sound processing?

Answer 4

-Improving natural quality of the sound
-Improving speech clarity in noise
-Extending frequency range of amplification by hearing aids
-Noise reduction algorithms could be improved to retain more speech
-Processing for music could be better
-Microphone directionality
-Increase microphone distance
-Analysis of sound environment and automatic programme application
-Wireless binaural sound processing already available but should improve

Question 5

What are hearables?

Answer 5

-Wireless earpieces that deliver sound to the ear and enhance the listening experience
-Stream sound: can amplify and apply signal processing algorithms

Question 6

Who develops hearables?

Answer 6

-Hearing aid companies and commercial headphone companies
-Earbuds (Apple, Samsung), personal sound amplifiers (Nuheara, Olive Union), hearing aids (Oticon, Phonak)

Question 7

What are some advantages of Hearables?

Answer 7

-Look more acceptable: might be a good stepping stone to hearing aids for someone who does not feel comfortable
-Do not have to wait on a waiting list
-Easily accessible
-Compatible with most devices
-Can be easier to use than hearing aids
-Better sound quality: combining hearing aid earphone sound processing and delivery
-Better hearing
-Sync with all wireless devices
-Reduce stigma
-Body systems monitoring e.g. body temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen levels
-Activity tracking
-Biometric identification: unique properties of the ear
-Live translation of other languages

Question 8

What is targeted/ directional sound delivery?

Answer 8

-Invented by the US military for use on aircraft carriers
-Directional speakers convert sound into inaudible ultrasound waves travelling out from the speaker in a focused column
-When the ultrasound waves collide with an object (or person) within the column they convert back into normal sound
-Allows sound to travel significant distances without reduction in intensity