The basic function of a hearing aid is to provide louder sounds directly to the user. However, modern manufacturers have gone further to improve the experience for users of their products – an effort that has resulted in a host of features that can make using a hearing aid a pleasant and straightforward experience. 

Here are the top features you’ll want to keep an eye out for when choosing your device:

Tinnitus masking 

Tinnitus is a condition that causes people to hear phantom sounds; it can be very intrusive, has been linked with depression, insomnia and higher stress levels. While there are numerous causes for tinnitus, experts believe that 90% of people with tinnitus also have a degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus masking features are a way of treating both conditions at the same time, within the same device. This feature plays a continual noise that helps to distract the user from the sounds heard due to tinnitus; this noise can cause all tinnitus sounds to fade into the background – and subsequently become less intrusive or distressing – for the user. 

Directional microphones 

The ability to engage in conversations is incredibly important; social interactions help to keep the brain active and allow people to form and continue key relationships with others. Directional microphones are a hearing aid feature that is intended to help facilitate these conversations; sound that originates in front of the person wearing the device is maximized, and sounds that come from behind are minimized. This feature helps to eliminate background noise distractions and makes it easier to focus on speech

Wind noise reduction 

Wind can cause difficulties for those wearing hearing aids; the sound of the wind is heard clearly and can make it difficult to understand speech or other important sounds. Wind noise reduction is a feature that is specifically designed to combat this problem; when wind is detected, the hearing aid automatically adjusts the signal to lessen its impact and avoid distracting the wearer. If your hobbies mean spending a lot of time outdoors, then wind noise reduction is a feature that you are sure to benefit from. 

Bluetooth connectivity 

If a person wearing hearing aids is sitting in a room listening to music on their smartphones, then that music will play to the entire room. As the music plays, the hearing aids will pick up the sound and then amplify it to the user – just as they would with any standard noise in a room. However, if those hearing aids offer Bluetooth connectivity, then the sound is not played into the room – it can be played directly to the hearing aid. This ability reduces background noise and feedback and produces a crisp, clear sound for the hearing aid wearer.

Choosing the right features for you 

All the features above can make wearing and using your hearing aids convenient and pleasant experience, and there are plenty of additional features besides the ones we have focused on. A hearing health professional will be happy to go through each available feature, so you can choose a device that caters perfectly to your preferences.