Figuring out the right hearing aid for your needs can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. To find the right hearing aid for your lifestyle, consider what the advantages of special features are, and whether you could make good use of them in your daily life. One of the features you may be asked to consider is Bluetooth. Opting for Bluetooth in your hearing aids can make streaming audio compatible with a wide range of digital devices.
Bluetooth: What Is It
Even if you are new to the technology, Bluetooth in hearing aids is intuitive and easy to use. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that tethers to digital devices to each other so they can communicate, share files and information, and in the case of hearing aids, transmit streaming sound from a device directly to your hearing aid.Bluetooth is a little different than WiFi in how it functions. WiFi is wireless technology that allows a device to connect to the internet without a cable connection, while Bluetooth is built to facilitate connecting devices wirelessly.When you get Bluetooth equipped hearing aids, you can tether the various digital devices in your life to your hearing aid, such as cell phone or smart phone, television, computer, GPS, or even some digitally equipped doorbells. When in range and when you turn on your hearing aid’s Bluetooth function, you can stream audio directly into your ear making it easier to focus on and comprehend.
Steady Streaming
You may be used to jumps or lags when digital streaming is involved, but Bluetooth audio resolves that problem with its technology. Bluetooth sends sound signals along multiple channels simultaneously to optimize sound quality, so even if one staggers, you’ll never hear it. Using several channels minimizes interruption problems and cut-out sound.
Binaural or Unilateral Functioning
Bluetooth makes sound directionality more natural because your hearing aids don’t just communicate with other devices, they also communicate with each other. In order to locate the source of a sound (sound directionality) our hearing calibrates the slight lag between when a sound registers in each of our ears. That is to say, a sound wave will hit the ear closer to the source of the sound sooner than it will reach the ear farther away.This nuanced calibration is performed near instantaneously and naturally by the auditory cortex of our brain. However, hearing loss can deteriorate our natural ability to find the source of a sound. Bluetooth can help fix this problem by replicating and accentuating the time lag between ears as sound is digitally processed and amplified.People with unilateral hearing loss - hearing loss that is primarily in just one ear- may get the most benefit from this Bluetooth perk. By transmitting sound from both ears to a single ear, CRoS hearing aids use Bluetooth to recreate the sound lag and increase a user’s ability to determine directionality.
Diverse Options with Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology is in wide use, making it easy and accessible to find devices that work with your Bluetooth hearing aids. Most digital consumer devices come with Bluetooth, and Bluetooth hearing aids allow you to tether around eight devices at a time, meaning you can connect and stream all the devices your use daily.Most important for many people, Bluetooth makes phone and video conversations more legible. By being wireless, Bluetooth eliminates feedback and interference that can come from holding certain phones and devices too close to your hearing aid. Sound clarity is greatly increased as well.Streaming sound from music, movies and television is also a Bluetooth option that people love. When paired with your entertainment center, stereo or computer, Bluetooth sends audio straight to your hearing aid making it easier to follow dialog and enjoy your favorite songs.
Atlanta Hearing Doctor
We know that figuring out the right hearing aid for you is a big decision. If you want to learn more about how Bluetooth can improve your hearing experience, or need help deciding whether it is a good fit for your hearing needs, Atlanta Hearing Doctor can help. We work with you to find the options that can optimize your hearing experience. Ready to learn more? Reach out and contact us today to see what Atlanta Hearing Doctor can do for your hearing health.
