AI and Hearing Aids – the Synergy

You may think of your favorite sci-fi movie when someone mentions artificial intelligence (AI). But today, AI is a reality that we all better get accustomed to. When it comes to hearing aids, this is especially true. Gone is the time of one-size-fits-all hearing aids that merely increase the volume of sounds around you. Modern-day, high-end hearing aids use AI.

Artificial intelligence – what exactly is it?

AI is a sophisticated computer algorithm that utilizes data inputs to generate new results. In this way, AI algorithms participate in a type of learning, aptly called “machine learning”. With AI the user doesn’t need to program every individual result because the algorithm does that by itself.

Depending on the extent of hearing loss, lifestyle, and habits, AI in hearing aids can make adjustments depending on your routines and your needs. Your hearing aids will be more effective at improving your ability to hear because of this.

How can you hear better with AI?

Initially, this could seem a little abstract. Hearing aids do seem to have a basic function, after all. How can things be improved by adding AI to the mix? Well, you know that row of big dials and switches that people use to mix music in recording studios? (Perhaps you’ve seen them in movies.) There’s a little tiny one of those inside of your hearing aid. Better sound quality can be achieved by adjusting these settings. With hearing aids that are powered by AI, these settings are adjusted automatically without requiring you to do anything.

These smart devices use a deep neural network to re-create human brain responses. As a result of this, these hearing aids react in real-time to conditions without being programmed to do so.

This might sound like futuristic science, but it’s the same fundamental technology that allows streaming services to suggest programming according to your viewing history. Newer cars use this technology to help you drive more safely and your email provider utilizes it to auto-sort emails into your inbox. These devices become more proficient at making correct decisions the more you use them.

AI hearing aids – new advances

These days, hearing aids are integrating multiple brand new improvements in AI to help you hear even better. Some of the best examples include the following:

• Acoustic environment classification: Every room you go into has its own distinct acoustic characteristics. Some of those qualities are helpful for your hearing aids; some are bad for your hearing aids. You will hear better in nearly any environment with AI technology making effective automatic adjustments.
• Noisy room filters: New AI algorithms can help to filter out room noise in a number of loud or echo-prone locations. Cross talk, for instance, can often be difficult on a hearing aid. But even in a noisy environment, you’ll be able to hear more clearly what the individual across from you is talking about as AI filters out unwanted information.
• Helping you hear through facemasks: Conversations were undoubtedly harder during the pandemic when everyone was wearing a facemask. You can stay safer and hear better at the same time as AI algorithms can amplify the voice beneath the facemask.
• Edge mode: This is an assist mode which can be initiated by the user. Essentially, when you have a hard time hearing, you can activate something known as Edge Mode. This then triggers the AI algorithm and the algorithm will get to work trying to make your hearing clearer.

This is probably only the beginning of the advancements scientists and manufacturers are making.

How is AI employed in the field of audiology?

These days, AI has sort of become a bit of a buzzword. Depending on the application, AI does different things, which can occasionally cause confusion. So, what does AI mean for the discipline of audiology?

First, it means that scientists are looking for ways to make hearing aids even more helpful to patients. This research includes new technologies, such as deep neural networks and machine learning. But hearing aids aren’t all there is to it. In the future, AI might be able to help with diagnosing hearing loss or even helping patients prevent future hearing loss.

Patients will find AI in more and more of their devices as the technology becomes more dependable.

The benefits of AI-assisted hearing aids

Unlike some other industries, AI isn’t being incorporated into hearing aids just because it’s the hot new thing. These machine learning algorithms provide some significant advantages to patients. Here are a few of those benefits:

• Social engagement: With regard to dealing with social interaction, people who utilize AI-assisted hearing aids tend to be more successful, according to some research. This is probably because the speech they hear is clearer in a wider variety of environments. Having said that, it’s not entirely clear that AI is the defining factor in keeping your social life afloat. Likely, it simply helps people who are already social better maintain their relationships.
• Health tracking and fall prevention: If you accidentally fall while you’re wearing your hearing aids, your AI-assisted devices might be capable of detecting the significance and severity of your tumble. If there is a severe fall, these hearing aids can, in some cases, alert the Authorities. Should you be drinking more water, exercising more, eating healthier? AI can make your health information easier to understand.
• You have more control over how you hear: Many AI-assisted hearing devices give you the option to turn those algorithms on or off. This means hearing aid wearers will have more control over the clarity of sound they hear. And this often means hearing better more frequently.
• Helping you listen to devices: Your hearing aid can get feedback from lots of devices, like televisions, cell phones, speaker phones, and a range of other devices. This feedback can be filtered out by machine learning algorithms so the sound you want to hear is the only sound you will hear.

How does this affect patients?

For individuals with AI-assisted hearing aids these benefits frequently result in real-world advantages. Imagine you were at a party having a discussion. An older hearing aid would raise the volume on everything. This isn’t helpful because the conversation you actually care about will get drowned out by background noise. With AI, the hearing aid can tune in to the noise around you and react the way your brain would, lowering background noise and focusing on your friends’ voices.

AI will create a location-by-location program to deal with the various types of sounds it detects. These algorithms help when you go back to a specific location or sound profile. Other hearing aids with AI are programmed with day-to-day sounds in order to better define and amplify important sounds.

Here are some other practical benefits to AI-assisted hearing aids:

• The cognitive load will be reduced.
• You will have improved quality of life.
• You won’t be aggravated because you can’t hear (at least, not as frequently).

You will be able to hang out with friends again, watch your favorite shows, and take good care of your brain, in other words.

Cost vs. reward

Because of the costs, AI wasn’t available in most hearing aids until recently. An algorithm is, after all, a complex math equation. But prices are decreasing, partly due to the prevalence of the technology.

That isn’t saying that those hearing aids will absolutely come down in price soon and you still may end up choosing a model that doesn’t have AI capabilities. Obviously, the decision making is in the hands of the patient. But AI functions are becoming more readily available and common.

Finding out what option is best for you

For somebody who lives alone and doesn’t go out much, hearing aids with AI might not be worth the added cost. To somebody who is socially active and finds themselves in situations with many competing sounds, however, it makes a big difference.

For someone who uses traditional hearing aids and still gets exhausted easily in social scenarios, AI hearing aids would be really helpful. Social situations are simpler and the user will feel less tired with AI hearing aids. When the doorbell rings, or when you have a fall AI technology can alert you or a loved one and it can even track your steps. As technology and AI develop, hearing aids will continue to as well.

Want to find out how AI hearing aids can help you? Call us to schedule an appointment!