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Hearing Loss
August 21, 2024
4 Min

Biometric Hearing Aids: The Future of Hearing Aids

Learn everything you need to know about biometric hearing aids, their key benefits, and who they are for. Click here and read on!

Author:
Nicole Brener
Biometric Hearing Aids: The Future of Hearing Aids
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It's exciting to see how the hearing aid world evolves from simple amplification devices to sophisticated systems offering highly personalized sound experiences.

The latest evolution in hearing aids is biometric hearing aids, marking a new era in hearing aid technology and personalization.

Biometric hearing aids go beyond the traditional "one-size-fits-all" approach by using advanced technology to map each user's ear's unique shape and acoustics.

These devices deliver a sound experience explicitly tailored to the individual. The results? Clearer speech, natural sound quality, and improved comfort, especially in challenging listening environments.

What Are Biometric Hearing Aids?

Biometric hearing aids are an advanced type of hearing aid that uses biometric data—information unique to an individual's physical characteristics, such as ear shape and acoustics to optimize sound processing. 

Why is this a game-changer? The ear's shape affects how sound waves are captured and transmitted into the ear canal, influencing how sounds are perceived, particularly in terms of directionality and clarity. 

Understanding the unique ear shape of the user allows the device to deliver sound in a way that is perfectly tailored to the individual's ear anatomy. 

This provides a new level of personalization for the user, maximizing their listening experience.

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Key Benefits of Biometric Hearing Aids

  • Custom calibration based on the individual's ear anatomy
  • Improved speech clarity, especially in noisy environments.
  • Better ear canal fitting, which reduces wind noise.
  • More comfortable and secure fit.

Additionally, due to its unique physiology, the ear is one of the most accurate spots on the body to measure physiological information. Thus, biometric hearing aids also function as sensors that collect and monitor data such as heart rate, body temperature, and even facial expressions to assess the user's experience. 

With health tracking on the rise, biometric hearing aids can result in an all-in-one solution for people with hearing loss who are also interested in tracking health metrics.

Who Can Benefit From Biometric Hearing Aids?

Biometric hearing aids can benefit people with different types of hearing loss because they can tailor sound processing to individual needs.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss: This is the most common type of hearing loss caused by inner ear or auditory nerve damage. Biometric hearing aids can offer a customized amplification based on the specific shape of the ear canal, which is crucial for people with sensorineural loss who often struggle with understanding speech in noisy environments.

Conductive Hearing Loss: This type of hearing loss occurs when sound cannot efficiently travel through the outer or middle ear. While traditional hearing aids amplify sound, biometric devices optimize how sound waves are delivered, considering the unique ear anatomy to minimize distortion and enhance the clarity of amplified sounds.

Mixed Hearing Loss: For individuals with both sensorineural and conductive components, biometric hearing aids provide a comprehensive solution by addressing both aspects simultaneously. Personalized sound processing can better compensate for the dual challenges, providing clearer, more balanced hearing.

Are Biometric Hearing Aids For You?

If you’re ready for an enhanced personalized hearing aid experience, you should consider discussing transitioning from traditional hearing aids to biometric hearing aids with your audiologist or healthcare provider.

The initial fitting process may require more time than simply buying a traditional hearing aid or an OTC hearing aid, but the result is a more personalized experience that may be worth the wait.

It’s important to find a specialist with experience with biometric hearing aids who has extensive knowledge about biometric devices and experience with fitting these advanced hearing aids. 

Whether you’re ready today to try biometric hearing aids today or in the future, it’s good to stay ahead of the curve as these devices continue to advance and add an extra layer of comfort, efficiency and personalization.

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Nicole Brener

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

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Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement.

Biometric Hearing Aids: The Future of Hearing Aids

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.