Hearing Aid Accessories

Wireless Technology

Although hearing aids can provide significant benefit to many users, for some people, the use of hearing aids alone is not sufficient enough to help the user with specific hearing difficulties. Advancements have been made in recent years to help in situations where hearing aids users need additional assistance. Such situations include telephone use, watching television and conversations in noisy situations and meetings. Each hearing aid company has their own specific devices, but the concept of type of device is similar across the board.

Remote Controls

Remote controls allow the user to control the hearing device without touching the device itself. Remote controls are a great option for patients who want the small size of a CIC hearing aid, but who also want to be able to control the hearing aid volume and program setting. Remote controls can be very sophisticated devices that are the size of an average cell phone, or may be very simplistic in nature and carried on a keychain.

Cell Phone Accessories

If you are a hearing aid user, and continue to have listening difficulties on your cell phone, a phone accessory may be right for you. The first step in the process is to make sure your cell phone has Bluetooth capabilities. Most recently purchased cell phones will be compatible with the accessories. These devices have the ability to stream a phone call straight to your hearing aids. Another feature of most cell phone accessories is the ability to turn off the microphones on the hearing aids and stream only your cell phone conversation. This will allow you to focus on your conversation without being disturbed by your surroundings. Some of the companies’ devices also have the ability to stream music and function as a remote control for the hearing aids. At your follow-up appointment, your audiologist will help set-up the device with your cell phone and ensure calls are working properly.

Television Accessories

Another common difficulty among hearing aids users is the ability to hear the television. The use of a television device cuts down the signal-to-noise ratio by streaming your chosen television program directly to your hearing aids. Many of these devices also have the ability to turn off your hearing aid microphones to cut down surrounding noise that may interfere with the television. Direct streaming to your hearing aids will give you the ability to adjust the volume of the program to best suit your needs, without raising the volume for others who may be watching television. Set-up for television devices is simple. The first part of the device is connected to the back of your television and the second device is either worn around your neck while watching television or just placed beside you, depending on your hearing aid manufacturer.

Microphone Accessories

Background noise can be a persistent problem for hearing aid users. If you are having problems with situations such as one-on-one conversations in noise and over distance, or in smaller meetings, a remote mic may be right for you. A remote mic can either be worn or placed in front of a speaker and would stream their voice directly to your hearing aid. Depending on the manufacturer of your hearing aids, an additional device may need to be worn around your neck to receive the incoming signal.