Hearing aids have come a long way in recent years. Today’s devices offer incredible features that make life easier and sound clearer—but the technology can also come with a lot of unfamiliar words. At Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care, we’ve put together a simple guide to explain the most common hearing aid terms you might come across.
- Streaming
- What it is:
Streaming lets your hearing aids receive sound directly from another device, like your TV, smartphone, tablet, or music player.
- Why it’s useful:
Instead of listening to the TV through the air, which can be muffled or hard to hear, the sound goes straight into your hearing aids. This makes speech, music, and phone calls much clearer.
You can watch your favourite TV show at normal room volume while still hearing the dialogue perfectly through your hearing aids.
- Bluetooth/Connectivity
- What it is:
Bluetooth is a wireless
technology that allows your hearing aids to connect to phones, tablets, computers, and other devices without cables. Sometimes it is called ‘connectivity’
- Why it’s useful:
Take phone calls directly through your hearing aids
Listen to music, podcasts, or radio direct from your phone to your hearing aids
Connect to video calls on tablets or computers
Think of it as giving your hearing aids their own personal wireless connection to your devices.
- Adaptive Sound
- What it is:
Adaptive sound technology automatically adjusts how your hearing aids process different environments.
- Why it’s useful:
In a quiet room, it focuses on the person talking to you
In a busy café or restaurant, it reduces background noise
Outdoors, it filters wind or traffic sounds
Adaptive sound means your hearing aids work smarter, so you don’t have to fiddle with settings all the time.
- Noise Reduction / Noise Cancellation
- What it is:
This technology helps reduce unwanted background sounds—like chatter, traffic, or wind—without affecting the speech you want to hear.
- Why it’s useful:
Makes conversations easier to follow in noisy environments
Reduces listening fatigue
Works automatically in many modern hearing aids
Think of it as a smart filter that keeps the important sounds clear while lowering distractions.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Features
- What it is:
Some modern hearing aids have AI, which means they can learn your listening preferences and automatically adjust to different environments.
- Why it’s useful:
Automatically tweaks settings for noisy restaurants, quiet rooms, or outdoor areas
Learns which sounds you focus on and improves clarity over time
In a nutshell, AI features can provide a more personalised hearing experience without manual adjustments
Why It Matters
Modern hearing aids are not just about amplification—they are smart devices that can adapt to your lifestyle. Understanding the terms helps you:
- Choose the right features for your daily life
- Use your hearing aids more effectively
- Make informed decisions when considering an upgrade
Need More Help Understanding Your Hearing Aids?
If you ever feel overwhelmed by hearing aid jargon, don’t worry—you’re not alone. At Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care, our friendly specialists are happy to explain any terms, show you how your devices work, and help you get the most from your hearing aids.
