E-Hearing Aids

In recent years, the increasing use of technological devices such as cell phones has posed quite a problem to wearers of hearing devices. Unlike regular telephones, cell phones are not required to be compatible with hearing aids. One of the many ways Bluetooth is now being used with hearing aids is through a device that eliminates interference from cell phone use. This device, called an Ear Level Instrument (ELI), created by Starkey Laboratories, can be paired with a Bluetooth phone. During a call, the ELI overrides the signal from the hearing device and acts as a wireless hearing aid for the duration of the call, at which point the signal from the device automatically is turned back on.Another hearing aid device putting to use the benefits of Bluetooth is Epoq, an Oticon product. Epoq uses binaural technology that allows the left and right hearing aids to communicate to ensure more natural sound is heard by the user. This wireless device also allows cell phone reception to be directly received into the hearing aid without the use of complicated wires. (more…)