When you hear the term “artificial intelligence” (AI), do you picture hearing aids? Well, you should. Many of today’s hearing aids are equipped with AI to help you hear better, more easily. We review how below.
Important Terms
There are several important terms you should know before we discuss how hearing aids use AI:
- Artificial intelligence is an umbrella term defined as the ability of a machine to simulate human intelligence. Machines with AI can perform sets of tasks that require intelligent decisions by following a set of predetermined rules.
- Machine learning refers to the use of algorithms, or rules, to sort through data and make predictions and decisions.
- Deep neural networks (DNN) are a form of AI that are designed to mimic the neural habits of the brain. In other words, they respond to stimuli the way your brain would without being explicitly programmed to do so.
How Is AI Used in Hearing Aids?
Older hearing aids are relatively simple. They work by amplifying all sounds evenly to a volume level that the wearer can detect. However, this often means loud sounds are too loud and high-pitch sounds are too high.
Today’s hearing aids that are equipped with AI work differently. With these hearing aids, different sensors act like sensory organs for AI programs. The hearing aids can use these sensors to listen to what the environment does and respond accordingly. It’s also important to note that these hearing aids adapt to both the environment and the person’s individual hearing needs.
DNNs allow the hearing aid to mimic how your brain would hear sound if you didn’t have hearing loss. In real life, this means the hearing aid scans the environment – like the RRRink – selects important noises to amplify, and reduces distracting background noise.
Would You Benefit from a Hearing Aid with AI?
If you’re considering getting a hearing aid with AI capabilities, consider your lifestyle needs. If you live an active lifestyle and experience a lot of demanding listening situations, then a hearing aid with AI would benefit you. If you tend to spend time at home and enjoy quiet activities, hearing aids with AI may be an unnecessary expense, and a simpler model may serve you well.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Oregon Ear, Nose & Throat Center today.