Issue 18.14
I would like to discuss some exciting new advances in hearing instrument technology. As I reflect on the hearing instrument technology that was available when I first graduated from college (16 years ago) and compare it to what is available now I am truly amazed.
Back when I graduated we still fit people with ear trumpets or ear horns (ok that’s not quite true). However, the hearing instruments were analog in nature with very few controls for me to adjust or for you to adjust. Today there are digital hearing instruments that seem to have an infinite number of adjustments available.
So where am I going with all this reminiscing you ask? Well let me tell you. There are now hearing instruments that are made for the iPhone. In other words, they are compatible with the iPhone. You may be asking yourself, what does that mean and why does it matter to me?
I’m glad you asked. Let me tell you.
A hearing instrument that is compatible with the iPhone has the ability to hook directly to the iPhone. The hearing instruments that I will be discussing in this article are the Halo hearing instruments made by Starkey.
The Utah legislature just passed a bill that requires all phone calls while driving to be “hands free”. Imagine that you are driving down the road and you receive a call from you iPhone directly to your hearing instruments so that you are “hands free”. That is now possible with the Halo.
Are you a music buff? You can stream music from your iPhone directly to your hearing instruments. What about turn-by-turn directions while driving? These can be streamed directly to your Halo hearing instruments from your iPhone so that you can hear the directions
without bothering everyone else in the car. This is now possible with the Halo and TruLink app.
How about arriving at your favorite restaurant and your hearing instruments automatically changing to the best settings for listening in that environment? This is now possible with the made for iPhone
Halo hearing instruments with TruLink. Drive to a ball game and the hearing instruments will automatically change the settings. Cool, huh?
Imagine being able to fine tune the settings, yourself, for each listening environment you encounter. This is now possible with the made for iPhone Halo hearing instrument with TruLink made by Starkey.
What will the future bring? Who knows for sure but just try to imagine the possibilities. What about a translation app? An app on the iPhone that when someone speaks a different language it will translate it and stream it to your hearing instruments? That would be awesome. It’s not available yet but it could be in the future. Just imagine the possibilities.
To learn more about made for iPhone hearing instruments and what they can do for you come and talk with me or any of my colleagues. Until next time……..here is to better hearing!!!
Eric Maxwell can be contacted at Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists 435-216-5077.