Advances in artificial intelligence, or AI, are developing rapidly and quickly becoming a more prominent part of our daily lives. Not only is AI present on our phones and in our homes, but it is also an integral part of new hearing aid technology.
Today’s hearing aids do more than amplify sound, they can use AI to adapt to your environment to provide a better listening experience.
How AI Enhances Hearing Aids
Nearly 28.8 million Americans could benefit from wearing hearing aids, but many don’t take advantage of them, despite the advanced technologies.
AI has used machine learning to understand a wearer’s preference through adjustments they make with the devices. Historically, this data has been used to provide settings, like “restaurant setting,” to be used in places like Finch and Fork. With the use of AI, machine learning can be used to prioritize sounds automatically, based on what’s important to the wearer.
These smart systems can also:
- Recognize different types of sound environments
- Separate speech from background noise
- Adapt automatically to changes in surroundings
This means that wearers don’t need to constantly adjust their settings as they move from one place to another, AI can do so automatically.
Better Hearing in Real-World Situations
AI-powered hearing aids provide a more natural and effortless listening experience, especially in environments where background noise can make hearing a challenge. Here are a few examples:
Restaurants
These settings are notoriously noisy, with clinking dishes, background chatter, and music all happening at once. AI can identify the dominant speaker’s voice and focus on it while suppressing the surrounding noise.
- AI benefit: Improved speech clarity even in noisy, crowded places.
- User experience: Less effort to follow conversations and reduced listening fatigue.
Outdoors and Nature
Wind, rustling leaves, distant traffic and other ambient sounds can distort hearing outdoors. AI can distinguish between these types of ambient noises and adjust volume and frequency response accordingly.
- AI benefit: Reduction of wind noise without losing important environmental sounds.
- User experience: More pleasant outdoor walks and social time.
Office or Workplace
Switching between quiet focus and team meetings requires different sound settings. AI can learn and remember which environments require specific adjustments.
- AI benefit: Seamless transition between quiet and collaborative spaces.
- User experience: No need to adjust manually throughout the workday.
Watching TV or Attending Events
At home or in a public space, AI helps balance background audio with the voices you want to hear. Some AI systems can even sync with media devices for a direct sound feed.
- AI benefit: Clearer voices, reduced echo and balanced sound.
- User experience: More enjoyable entertainment with fewer missed words.
Key Features of AI-Powered Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids come equipped with advanced features that rely on AI technology, such as:
- Automatic scene detection: Instantly adjusts settings based on the environment.
- Directional microphones: Focus on sound from specific directions.
- Noise reduction: Suppresses background noise intelligently.
- Learning capability: Remembers user preferences and behaviors.
- Connectivity with apps and devices: Let users personalize and fine-tune their hearing experience.
Thanks to AI, hearing aids are no longer one-size-fits-all. They can provide personalized, adaptive hearing support in a wide range of environments.
With each new generation of AI-enabled devices, hearing aids are becoming more functional and life-enhancing tools for those with hearing loss. To learn more about the latest in hearing aid technology or to begin your hearing journey with a hearing test, contact Hearing Services of Santa Barbara today.
