The History of Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids Through History

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Hearing aids are little technological marvels. They’re small enough to fit discreetly in your ears and drastically improve your hearing. But they weren’t always this way. Hearing aids have evolved quite a bit over the years. Today in the Soundlife Hearing Technologies blog, we take a brief look at the history of hearing technology.

The 1600s

In the 1600s, hearing aids were about as primitive as they would get. Around this time, people would use hearing trumpets. These were a simple tool for amplifying and directing sound toward your ear. All you did was hold it in the direction you wanted to hear, and that’s how it worked. They were actually surprisingly effective, enough so that the technology wouldn't really be updated until the 1900s. The only adjustments made were to make them more aesthetically pleasing, almost making them fashion accessories in some cases.

The 1900s

During the 1900s, hearing aids would go through several changes. The first iteration came about thanks to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone. The new technology was largely based on how telephones work. They used electricity and carbon. Eventually, these would be replaced with vacuum tube technology.

Eventually, around 1950 transistor hearing aids would be invented. They were very small and portable and didn’t require giant batteries to be lugged around to operate. These hearing aids used analog technology, as opposed to the digital technology we use today.

The 1980s-Today

Digital hearing aids didn’t come around until much later and even the digital hearing devices of the early to mid-2000s can't hold a candle to what we can fit today. With digital programming, hearing aids were capable of filtering out much more unwanted noise and taking in the sounds you want to hear. Feedback was also greatly reduced, and the technology continues to evolve further, implementing Bluetooth and more. They’re smaller, they last longer, and have much more capabilities than ever before. In the future, we anticipate being able to have hearing aids with more smart functions and exciting technologies. Just look at how much they’ve changed in the past 50 years!

Hearing Aids from Soundlife Hearing Technologies

At Soundlife Hearing Technologies, we have a variety of hearing aids for you to choose from. We can give you a hearing evaluation and determine what is the best fit for you. We also offer programming, repairs, and more. For more information about our services and to schedule an appointment, contact us today.