Throughout time, hearing aids have been a source of anxiety or embarrassment for many people. However, this has put the challenge to innovate in front of designers, who have constantly sought to find better ways to improve the utility and convenience of these devices. Looking at the evolution of this technology can give us a greater appreciation of where we are now.
Ear horns, made of wood or bone, were the earliest solutions to reduced capacity. Essentially, they tried to draw in more sound and channel it directly to the ear. Later, as people learned to work with metal and other materials more easily, ear trumpets performed a similar function. Producers tried to keep them small, but they were always more or less conspicuous.
This drove some to look for ways to make things more low-profile by making them blend in with the environment. The acoustic cane and the acoustic throne integrated earpieces and sound conductors in those everyday objects. Others simply blended in with the user’s clothing or accessories.
A few clever inventors tucked these devices away in beards, hats, hair and opera glasses. But, the turn of the century saw new electric devices appear. But, the cost was prohibitive to most and they did not always work or last very long. The majority of people would have to wait until the mid-20th century to obtain small, efficient ones.
The changes over the last half century have outpaced all those that came before. Smaller, more powerful batteries have helped reduce the size. Now most are digital and can process various types of sounds, allowing in the most useful ones. Increasingly, models are being manufactured to fit deeper inside the ear, which makes them less conspicuous than in days past.
Of course, most people still do not relish the idea of wearing hearing aids. However, a brief glance at the past should give you some peace of mind. Large, clunky and unreliable devices are a thing of the past. Now, given the improved technology, the only one who will notice the difference is the user.
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