Wireless Technology

Since we last updated you on wireless technology, it has become more applicable to more listening situations. It is also starting to become more readily available in hearing instruments in all levels of technology. This is good news for the hearing aid wearer!

What is it?
Wireless operation is when electronic information is sent, without wires, either between a pair of hearing instruments, or to hearing instruments from a remote device.

How might it help you?
A wireless hearing aid can deliver extra performance in a number of ways. When it comes to sharing information between hearing aids one example is having the hearing aid set up so that adjusting the volume control on one hearing aid will adjust the volume on both. And likewise with a programme button. Alternatively, you might like a signal that is detected by one hearing aid to be sent to the other hearing aid. This would allow you to put a telephone up to one hearing aid, but for the conversation to be heard, clearly, in both ears. Or, when driving the car you may wish to preferentially listen to the passenger, so you could decide that the speech at your left ear would be best replicated in the right hearing aid too.

When it comes to receiving information from a device distant to the hearing aids, a neck-worn device will be required. This kind of wireless technology might help you hear the television better. The signal from the television is streamed (sent using wireless technology) to a neck-worn device, and then sent directly to your hearing aids. So the only sound you would hear would be the television – no background noise! This neck-worn device might also work as a microphone.

So a bluetooth mobile phone that is electronically paired to the neck-worn device will, when it receives a call, ring directly in the hearing aids, even if the phone is 20 metres away. And speaking aloud will send the signal back to the mobile telephone, to be heard by the caller.

These features are really exciting developments, but are not available in every hearing instrument. Also, some makes or models will require remotes, or additional devices, in order to access wireless technology. To find out whether your hearing aids are capable of operating in this fashion, contact Debbie (phone: 264 0405 or e-mail: debbie.s@russellhearing.co.nz) and she will help you out!

Images left to right: example of TV adaptor, example of neck-worn device.