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Advances in hearing technology help keep us connected.
By Katie Koebel
Those struggling with hearing loss may experience other challenges beyond difficulty hearing. For instance, hearing loss can result in a person withdrawing from social interactions.
This is where digital hearing tools can act as allies to reduce isolation. Readily available technology can help people struggling with hearing loss regain and retain their social connections.
The Social Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss can have varying effects on a person’s social life, particularly among older adults. Strained hearing can make it difficult to follow a conversation and require more energy to stay focused, which can quickly tire someone out.
A few common scenarios on how untreated hearing loss can impact an individual's social life include avoiding answering the phone, increasing the volume on the TV, which can make it too loud for others, and struggling to keep up in group settings such as at family dinners.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and/or balance issues can also indicate a hearing loss. So can asking someone to repeat themselves, getting words mixed up during conversation, and talking loudly yourself. Some people with hearing loss admit that they monopolize conversations so that they do not have to address the fact that they can’t hear what other people are saying.
These realities don’t happen overnight, as hearing can slowly worsen over time and be hard to notice. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the early signs, as they can help guide people to the proper treatment.
How Digital Hearing Tools Can Help
Digital tools are innovations that help improve sound delivery to the ear, making conversations easier to follow and enhancing sound quality in noisy environments. From hearing aids and captioning apps to hearing loops and Auracast broadcast systems, these tools leverage technology and provide features to support social connections. Here’s how:
Hearing aids: Speech enhancement and noise reduction technologies separate speech from background noises for easier communication.
Captioning apps: Real-time transcription is available through AI technology, useful for in-person conversations or meetings.
Loops and Auracast: In public areas—such as event spaces, churches, community centers, and even taxi cabs—these are systems that deliver audio directly to hearing aids via a telecoil or by using an Auracast-enabled device.
In addition, wearable devices, such as vibrating wristbands and smartwatches, can provide notifications of a doorbell or phone ringing. Plus, smart doorbells such as the Ring or Nest can stream live camera feeds to monitor visitors at your front door.
Reconnecting Through Technology
Digital hearing tools do more than improve hearing because they reconnect people to the moments that matter most, by improving access to sound and clarity in everyday settings. This allows individuals with hearing loss to more comfortably catch up with a grandchild on a video call, attend a community event, and have dinner out with friends.
If you or someone you know has noticed changes in hearing, is experiencing tinnitus or balance issues, or is beginning to withdraw from social settings, it may be time to consider a hearing test. In addition, if you’re at a higher risk of hearing damage from working in a noisy setting, have your hearing checked regularly and advocate for proper hearing protection in your workplace. Taking action to protect your hearing and using assistive technology will benefit your long-term social and emotional health.
Katie Koebel, M.Cl.Sc., is an audiologist and the senior manager of audiology at HearingLife, which operates hearing clinics in Canada. Disclaimer: This is not professional medical advice. Please consult a hearing care specialist to address your unique needs.
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