Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing more than just the tech industry. AI technology has redefined the possibilities of hearing loss care, providing the highest degree of clarity, comfort, and convenience available today. AI hearing aids go beyond traditional devices by adjusting to different listening scenarios, reducing background noise, and prioritizing the sounds and voices you want to hear.
In this guide, we explain how AI hearing aids work and break down some of the core technologies that make these devices so revolutionary.
The Technology Behind AI Hearing Aids
AI hearing aids use artificial intelligence to dynamically adapt to an ever-changing sound environment. They use advanced algorithms to learn from your daily interactions, offering a truly personalized hearing experience tailored to your specific needs. Instead of simply amplifying noise, AI hearing aids are designed to adapt to your surroundings and prioritize the sounds you want to hear.
While the technology behind AI hearing aids may sound complex, it can be broken down into three core components, all of which you likely interact with every day. Below, we look at how each of the three aspects of AI technology works together to provide a more personalized and hassle-free hearing experience:
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that allows computer systems to learn and recognize patterns and independently complete complex tasks. AI can enable computers to do many complex things, such as learning, problem-solving, natural language processing, and more.
In hearing aids, AI technology continuously analyzes your sound environment and makes settings adjustments in real-time to deliver clearer speech, reduced background noise, and a more natural hearing experience overall.
Although this concept may seem complicated at first, AI has been around for a long time, and you probably already use it on a regular basis without even realizing it. In fact, virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa all use AI algorithms to understand and respond to questions, provide assistance, and perform tasks.
Machine Learning
Machine learning algorithms are how AI gets smarter over time. This is a type of software that teaches electronic devices to find and remember patterns on their own.
AI hearing aids use machine learning algorithms to learn your listening preferences and habits, and identify patterns such as speech signals, background noise, and more. They then use this information to make better adjustments in future listening situations.
In the same way that online stores like Amazon use machine learning to recommend products based on your wish lists and past purchases, AI hearing aids use the same algorithms to optimize your listening experience to your needs and preferences.
Deep Neural Networks (DNNs)
Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are essentially just more advanced AI algorithms designed to mimic how the human brain processes sound. In fact, DNNs can process information and recognize patterns even faster than a lot of people.
In AI hearing aids, DNNs help automatically separate speech from background noise and deliver a more natural, balanced listening experience. This technology can even recognize and prioritize familiar voices.
Social media platforms like Facebook use similar algorithms to understand and interpret visual information, so they can automatically recognize faces in photos and suggest you tag the person. Similarly, AI hearing aids use DNNs to recognize and amplify specific voices of people you know, among other things.
What Do AI Hearing Aids Do?
AI hearing aids have many easy-to-use features and design perks like long-range Bluetooth audio streaming and long-lasting rechargeable batteries. However, their functionality and performance benefits don’t stop there. Not even close.
AI hearing aids are designed to provide the most seamless listening experience possible by adapting to specific situations, based on your unique hearing needs and preferences. Better yet, the more you wear them, the better your AI hearing aids will work for you.
Below, we list the key functions and capabilities of AI hearing aids and the incredible benefits these devices provide.
Automatic Adjustments Based on Listening Environment
AI hearing aids use sophisticated algorithms to continuously analyze the sounds happening around you. These hearing aids are then able to make setting adjustments to optimize the sound quality to suit your listening environment. Remarkably, these adjustments happen automatically, requiring no effort on your part.
The outcome is nothing short of extraordinary—clearer, more distinct, and more true-to-life sound quality than ever before. For example, in a bustling restaurant or lively party, AI hearing aids continuously adapt to suit what is going on around you. As ambient noise fluctuates or you transition between different spaces, your hearing aids swiftly adjust settings to ensure a consistently enhanced auditory experience.
These advanced AI hearing aids stand alone as the sole devices capable of this innovative and transformative sound processing, setting a new standard for hearing loss care.
Automatically Switch Modes Based on Location
With some AI hearing aids, you can create highly customized listening modes and “geotag” them to specific places. These modes allow you to assign personalized hearing settings to specific locations, which are automatically activated when you arrive there. For instance, you may set different listening preferences for home, work, or a favorite restaurant, and your AI hearing aids will instantly switch modes as you walk through the door.
This means your hearing aid settings adapt effortlessly to different environments, ensuring an optimal auditory experience tailored to the places you frequent the most.
Recognize and Prioritize Important Voices
AI-powered hearing aids go beyond traditional speech recognition. Using advanced algorithms, these devices can identify and prioritize specific voices, automatically enhancing their clarity, even in noisy environments. Imagine the way you instinctively refocus your attention when you hear a familiar voice – AI hearing aids replicate this by automatically focusing on the source of the sound.
This remarkable feature, combined with cutting-edge noise reduction technology, not only significantly improves speech clarity but also provides a more natural and personalized listening experience. The magic lies in continuous learning; AI hearing devices constantly adapt based on your interactions and surroundings, refining your settings to precisely match your needs.
Track Health and Wellness Metrics
Not only do AI hearing aids excel at improving sound and speech clarity, but some also include exclusive health-tracking features. By having built-in health monitoring capabilities, these AI hearing devices make it easy for you to keep tabs on your daily activity levels and set personalized fitness goals.
Now you can easily monitor your personal health trends like your heart rate and daily step count, and even share this data with your healthcare providers. For anyone seeking a comprehensive solution to both hearing and health needs, AI hearing aids are indispensable.
Fall Detection and Alerts
In addition to health tracking, some of the most cutting-edge AI hearing devices incorporate another crucial feature: fall detection. This innovative technology utilizes built-in sensors to identify sudden changes in movement or orientation that may indicate a fall.
What makes these AI hearing aids truly exceptional is their ability to automatically alert someone on your behalf, ensuring timely assistance if it’s needed. This fall detection feature is exclusive to only the most advanced AI hearing aids and adds an extra layer of safety as well as peace of mind for individuals and their loved ones.
Real-Time Language Translation
With exclusive AI hearing aid apps like Thrive Hearing Control and My Audibel, some of the most state-of-the-art devices can now translate languages in real time. These cutting-edge features can instantly translate up to 27 languages into the dialect of your choice and play it directly to your hearing aids.
This groundbreaking AI hearing aid technology offers a level of convenience and accessibility that goes beyond traditional communication enhancements by breaking down language barriers altogether.
Virtual Assistant
Using state-of-the-art voice recognition and language processing technology, some AI hearing aids are compatible with apps that include virtual assistant features. Just like talking to an Alexa or Siri, you can use your voice to adjust your hearing aid settings, set alarms or reminders, ask questions about hearing topics, and so much more.
These smart assist features are also incredibly easy to use; just speak naturally, ask what you need, and let your virtual hearing aid assistant take care of the rest.
Demo AI Hearing Aids for Free at Any Audibel Hearing Clinic
The integration of AI technology within hearing aids provides a new level of sound clarity, combined with user-centric features, all designed to provide the most personalized listening experience possible.
When it comes to finding the best hearing aids for your needs, the care specialists at Audibel are here to help. Visit any of our hearing clinics located across the Nation to experience the power of AI hearing aid technology for yourself.
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