If your email account categorizes your messages, your favorite streaming platform recommends what to watch next or your car can park itself, you’re familiar with a form of technology known as artificial intelligence (AI). Another surprising place you may find AI is in your hearing aids.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
AI is the ability of a machine to simulate human intelligence and perform tasks that require intelligent decision-making. Machines that utilize AI can make these decisions by following a set of predetermined rules that they’ve been programmed to follow.
AI in Hearing Aids
Hearing aids of the past were relatively simple devices that amplified incoming sounds to a level that compensated for any loss of hearing. However, this often meant loud sounds were much too loud.
Once technology known as wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) was introduced, hearing aids began to make decisions based on what sound input came through as well as your individual listening needs.
In modern hearing aids, AI listens to the sounds in your environment using different sensors that act like sensory organs for AI programs. The machine then responds accordingly, essentially mimicking how the brain would hear the sounds if you didn’t have hearing loss.
In practice, this means if you’re enjoying a date at Walnut Creek on Ice, your hearing aids can take in the complex sound scene, scan and extract the important sounds – like your date’s voice – and reduce distracting background noise – like background music and side conversations. The result is clean and ideally-balanced sound delivered to your ears.
Who Would Benefit from Hearing Aids with AI?
Not all hearing aids are created equally; some have amazing features like AI capabilities while others are more limited.
If you’re considering getting hearing aids with AI, ask yourself whether you live an active lifestyle or a quiet lifestyle. If you find yourself in a lot of demanding listening situations, you would definitely benefit from hearing aids with AI. If not, this feature would be nice to have but is not essential.
An audiologist can help you pick the right model for you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Valley Audiology today.