There have been some wonderful advances in the realm of hearing aid technology over the last decade, but did you know that cell phones play an integral part to the development of hearing aid technology? The last ten years have developed a deep connection between the two different forms of technology, and has allowed people who use hearing aids to complement their hearing devices with novel equipment. Overall, the changes the symbiotic relationship between the devices can be called nothing short of spectacular, which is why we will look at how the hearing aid businesses have benefitted from cell phone technology.
The Beginning
Cell phone tech did not always have the upper hand in the world of high-tech designs. The first cell phones were woefully inadequate in the realm of providing consistent service and lack of sound feedback. It was not until around the year 2004 that cell phone technology took hold and was able to provide fewer dropped calls by utilizing telecoils. Telecoils increased the overall ability of the devices to pick up sounds being relayed from the cell towers. The result was that people wearing hearing aids found that they could use phones with telecoils with greater success and experience less feedback. This led to the establishment of the telecoil rating system and the hearing aid compatibility ratings which guide buyers on making the correct purchase today.
Smartphones - Technology Takes Off
The rapid technological advancements that have been experienced through the developments of smartphones have been rapid and powerful. These devices have the ability to run mobile applications that give hearing aid users the ability to access the internet to find locations that suit their purposes for movies and other public events. These applications have also been developed to increase the overall awareness of the user, allowing them to use powerful vibrations and lights to inform them that they are receiving a call or text message.
Another one of the most oft-cited reasons that cell phone technology is revolutionizing the hearing aid industry is through the development of symbiotic smartphones and hearing aids. These devices allow people to link their hearing aids directly to their smartphone so that they can exhibit control over the devices while using their cell phone as a remote control. This means that a hearing aid user could potentially use their smartphone application in order to control the volume and accepted variations on frequency at a whim. They do not need to take the device out in order to reprogram it. This incredible leap forward in technology was made possible by certain major cell phone developers linking their devices with others. The success of this program has led many investors to begin budgeting similar programs so that there are greater levels of choice for hearing aid users. In all of these ways, cell phone technology is having a huge impact on the hearing aid industry.