Have you heard of self-fitting hearing aids (SFHAs)? Can they help if you have a hearing loss? What exactly are they, and how do they differ from traditional hearing devices fitted by a hearing care expert? What’s the best action to take if you need hearing help?
When thinking about the conveniences artificial intelligence can bring, innovations such as Netflix — a film- and TV-streaming service that can learn and make recommendations based on individual viewing preferences — might come to mind. Other machine-learning offerings such as adaptive thermostats, self-driving cars, voice-operated virtual assistants, and automated music platforms may fit the bill, too.
When you think about eyeglasses, what do you think of? Most likely your own pair or those of loved ones. If you’re more fashion-minded, you might even think about that funky pair you saw recently on one of your favorite celebrities. You definitely don’t think of old age. But what about when you think of hearing aids? Probably a different story.
Have you ever seen a picture of someone using an ear trumpet? They were very early hearing aids that looked something like a musical instrument from a Dr. Seuss book. Sound was collected by a large opening at the end of a long, often curvy tube that ended in a smaller opening that was placed at the entrance to the ear canal.
Hearing aids have been around, helping people, for a long time. But most of the people who need one still shy away from them. There are all sorts of reasons that people give, ranging from cost to simply not wanting to be seen wearing something that makes them “look old.” Whatever the reason, the fact remains that close to half a billion people worldwide have a disabling hearing loss and most of them aren’t doing anything about it. Many can’t, due to poverty, but simply choose not to act. ...
DIY is a big deal these days. Got a fix-it problem around the house? A little online searching is all it takes to find some handy, do-it-yourself, how-to videos. That attitude has even made its way into healthcare. We aren’t at the point where people are looking up how to do a home appendectomy, but there are a lot of ways for people to play an active role in diagnosing and monitoring themselves.