Hearing loss has been around as long as humans have been on this earth. People have been trying to find ways to deal with hearing loss for all that time, since the negative impacts of untreated hearing loss can strongly affect day-to-day life. Diving into the history of hearing aids and learning how far we have come can give you a deeper appreciation for the advanced pieces of technology we have today. Modern hearing aids come in a range of styles and features – and they continue to evolve.

What is a Hearing Aid?

Hearing aids are medical devices designed to help people with hearing loss hear better. 1 in 8 people in the United States over the age of 12 have a hearing loss in both ears. Nearly two-thirds of adults over the age of 71 have a hearing loss, yet many still do not wear hearing aids. Struggling with untreated hearing loss can take its toll on many areas of your life. That is why we are grateful for the difference better hearing can make.

Early History

The first hearing aid was the "ear trumpet" – a cone-shaped device designed to funnel sounds into the ear. Although not very effective, these gained popularity around the 17th century. Ear trumpets were custom-made for the wearer out of materials such as animal horns, wood, or metal. This shows how fitting devices for the wearer is not just prevalent today, it also goes way back.

Next Steps

Inventors continued to work to improve hearing devices over the years. In 1898, the Akouphone invented by Miller Rees Hutchinson was the first portable hearing aid that used a carbon transmitter. The transmitter used an electric current to make a weak signal stronger. However, the device was difficult and clunky with all of its parts: a microphone, headphones, amplifier, and a battery that did not even last long! It was also expensive and not owned by many people. Despite this, it was a leap forward and viewed as a success in hearing aid technology.

Into the 20th Century

Large-scale manufacturers and engineers became interested in business in the field of hearing aids. Many technologies were tried and tested over the years. Competition led to devices getting smaller. Vacuum tube technology, which turned speech into electrical signals and amplified them, spread in the 1920s. Then "wearable" devices became popular in the 1930s. The amplifier and batteries were worn around your neck but the microphone had to be held by hand. Transistors were introduced in 1948. They required less battery power and were even smaller than other hearing devices.

In 1970, the microprocessor was created. Edgar Villchur utilized the microprocessor to advance hearing aid technology along with an analog multi-channel amplitude compression device that could be used to amplify certain sounds over others. In 1982, an all-digital, real-time, array processing hearing aid was developed at the City University of New York, however, this device was bulky. At this time, there was also the development of digital chips that enabled processing – but these were also rather large.

First Fully Digital Hearing Aids

In 1987, the Nicolet Corporation brought the first commercial digital hearing aid to market. Although it was not popular, other companies took notice and it spurred rapid development. Manufacturers were introducing hybrid instruments using analog amplifiers, filters, and limiters that were controlled digitally.

21st Century

Today, hearing aids are more advanced than ever. Modern technology, such as Bluetooth and rechargeability, has increased the popularity of hearing aids. Now we have a range of sophisticated products with a variety of uses. A sleek design and lower price draw in many of us. Continuing advancements such as ambient noise control, automatic adjustments depending on the environment, integration with other devices and tinnitus features improve the lives of those with hearing loss. Looking back at the changes in hearing devices over the years make us feel lucky to have many great choices today.

Learn about how hearing aids can help you when you call us now.