By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
PreferencesDenyAccept
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. Read the announcement
Hearing Loss
July 17, 2024
6 Min

The Ear is The New Wrist: Introducing Wareable Hearing Health Trackers

Digital health tools track everything from our daily step count to sleep patterns and calories. They can be a smartwatch, a smartphone, or a ring. Check it!

Author:
Nicole Brener
The Ear is The New Wrist: Introducing Wareable Hearing Health Trackers
Example h2
Example h3

Digital health tools track everything from our daily step count to sleep patterns and calories. Whether it's a smartwatch, a smartphone, or a ring, the range of tracking devices is rapidly growing - and it seems we all want to know more! 

Monitoring personal health has raised interest across generations, with young and older consumers engaging with the technology. Now, hearing aid technology is entering the health-tracking world, developing new hearing aids with health and fitness-tracking features.

What's particularly exciting is that hearing aids with health and fitness tracking features can offer a comprehensive view of overall health, lead to healthy habit formation, and promote social interaction, serving as a holistic wellness device. Plus, did you know the ear is one of the most accurate places to measure vital signs? 

In this article, we'll explore in more detail all the features that hearing aids with health and fitness tracking offer.

What is a Wearable Hearing Health Tracker? 

The concept behind wearable hearing health trackers is an all-in-one solution that supports hearing aids with all the traditional capabilities while embedding sensors for real-time health tracking. 

In 2018, Starkey was the first to introduce “Healthables™” with the Livio AI hearing aid launch. Since then, other hearing aid manufacturers have followed.

These hearing aids can track activities like daily steps, time spent socially engaging, and hearing aid device usage. Some devices can even detect falls, a helpful safety feature, especially for older adults. 

Monitoring hearing health can also help detect any changes over time. This early detection can help identify potential hearing loss issues before they become severe, allowing for timely intervention and treatment.

Caption your calls and reconnect with the world.
Sign me up now!

How Do Wareable Hearing Health Trackers Support Your Health? 

Wearable hearing Health Trackers work similarly to popular devices like Apple Watch or Fitbit. By wearing the device, it monitors various aspects, such as:

Physical activity tracking

Tracking physical activity, from daily steps to exercise sessions, can help people set fitness goals and find motivation to stay active.

Heart rate

Frequent heart rate measurements can display important health data, especially in treating and preventing many health conditions.

Sleep patterns

Identifying sleep habits and patterns can greatly improve sleep health for individuals struggling with sleep disorders or signs of poor sleep.

Monitor hearing health

Gathering personalized hearing data can help customize your hearing aid experience and enhance your auditory health.

The greatest benefit of all is the integration of health data that offers a comprehensive view 

of the individual’s well-being, facilitating a more informed and proactive approach to health management. 

Do You Need a Wareable Hearing Health Tracker? 

Hearing health is closely related to general health. People with hearing loss are more likely to experience fatigue, mental stress from communication, and a decrease in physical activity. Some also experience social isolation, especially among older adults who experience the onset of hearing loss, marking a big change in their daily lives.

That’s why wearable health trackers are additional tools we can use with the potential to promote physical and psychological health. These devices help you enjoy the benefits of hearing better and help you take charge of your overall health, positively impacting your quality of life.

Additionally, fitness and hearing device tracking can help paint a picture of your activity level and hearing aid usage. These stats can help set health goals, motivate you, and have the ability to share data with your healthcare provider. 

Wearable Devices for Hearing Monitoring

The compact size of wearable hearing health trackers makes them comfortable, convenient, and discrete, contributing to their extended use and easy integration.

Here’s a quick view at some of the most popular hearing health hearing aids:

Signia AX

Signia AX Hearing Aid
Signia AX Hearing Aid
  • Exceptional clarity with Augmented Xperience technology
  • Comfortable
  • Great battery life and easy connectivity

Starkey Livio

Starkey Livio Hearing Aid
Starkey Livio Hearing Aid
  • Superior sound quality with AI-driven health-tracking features
  • Includes fall detection and brain health monitoring
  • User-friendly app 
  • Ideal for active users 

Starkey Genesis AI

Starkey Genesis AI Hearing Aid
Starkey Genesis AI Hearing Aid
  • Intuitive health tracking capabilities
  • Crystal-clear sound quality
  • Activity tracking and hearing health insights

Phonak Audéo Lumity (L)

Phonak Audeo Luminty (L) Hearing Aid
Phonak Audeo Luminty (L) Hearing Aid
  • SmartSpeech technology
  • Monitors daily activities and heart rate
  • Discreet design with connectivity options
  • Ideal for users with active lifestyles

ConclusionHearing aid health trackers are an innovative way to care for your hearing health and support your overall well-being. Their innovative features and AI capabilities allow you to proactively approach your hearing health and wellness.If you’re looking to dive deeper into your health insights and explore how monitoring your health can help you thrive, try wearable hearing health trackers!

Whether you're 18 or 100, staying connected matters—and Nagish is here to help.
Sign me up now!
Nicole Brener

Copywriter based in Miami, FL. Leads copywriting workshops and mentors women entrepreneurs at the Idea Center of Miami Dade College.

Blog
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Catch every word with captions.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
No more feeling left out. Nagish lets your voice be heard.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Don’t let life without captions slow you down.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Share on:

Suggested Articles

Hearing Loss
February 13, 2024
5 Min
Can Allergies Cause Clogged Ears?
Hearing Loss
June 11, 2024
7min
How To Clean Your Hearing Aids: Maintenance 101 and Care Tips
Deaf Culture
December 2, 2023
5 Min
TTYs: A Deaf Perspective TTY Nostalgia
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

The Ear is The New Wrist: Introducing Wareable Hearing Health Trackers

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.