What is a smart hearing aid?

Worldwide, 466 million people suffer from hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. It is therefore no surprise that makers of hearing aids are constantly improving their devices. One of those improvements is making hearing aids smart.

There are several names for smart hearing aids. They are also called new generation hearing aids, digital hearing aids or bluetooth hearing aids. Whatever name they go by, the devices have two main advantages:

1. They work with bluetooth
   Thanks to the wireless Bluetooth connection, a smart hearing aid works together with, for example, a smartphone or smart TV. That means that sound is sent from that device to the hearing aid. This makes calling, listening to music or watching TV easier. Previously, this required a streamer. That device formed the connection between the hearing aid and the TV, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Such a streamer is no longer (always) necessary with a smart hearing aid.
2. They have a companion app
   With the app of the hearing aid, users adjust settings themselves. For example, adjust the sound level per ear, mute noise or amplify ambient noise. For example, the user makes the whistle of a bird louder and the roar of cars softer. Or does he filter out the reverberation in a church. Have you lost your hearing aid? Then the app can sometimes indicate where it is. In addition, some apps allow the hearing care professional to adjust the hearing aid remotely if necessary.

In addition, many smart hearing aids do not have a battery, but a battery. It charges the user, just like with a smartphone or laptop. Some smart hearing aids are self-learning. These devices remember when the user adjusts certain settings and do so automatically if necessary.

There are two types of smart hearing aids. The first is Made for All (MFA). That means ‘made for everything’. This type of device can be paired with Android devices as well as iPhones and iPads. In addition, there are hearing aids that are Made for iPhone (MFI). They can only be paired with Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads. Check carefully which smartphone or tablet you have.

All kinds of brands offer smart hearing aids. But not all smart hearing aids are suitable for every type of hearing loss. And not all devices are reimbursed by the health insurer. Therefore, discuss with a hearing care professional what is possible for you. Compare prices and fees with different providers, which can save hundreds of euros.

There is sometimes a risk associated with smart devices. This risk is limited with a smart hearing aid. After all, the device is only connected via bluetooth. Read more about bluetooth and security in the article ‘What is bluetooth?’. You don’t have to worry about radiation either. Smart hearing aids emit very low energy levels, even less than a smartphone.