The Evolution of Hearing Aids: From Ear Trumpets to Digital Devices

Wearing hearing aids can make a huge difference to an individual’s life. Being able to hear clearly can enhance your life in so many ways. Impressive sound quality and a comfortable fit make modern hearing aids really easy to use and wear. But, while the hearing aids that individuals wear today feature advanced technology to produce a crystal-clear sound, this has not always been possible.

Throughout history, people experiencing hearing loss have not always have had trained audiologists on hand and available to help. Here this will take a look at the evolution of hearing aids and devices. From ear trumpets to modern digital devices, here’s how hearing aids have changed throughout history.

The Ear Trumpet

The first type of hearing device introduced was the ear trumpet. Primitive versions of the ear trumpet involved the use of animal horns, wood, snail shells and possible sheet metal to produce the trumpet. These were widely introduced in the 17th century, although these early simple versions were likely around far before this.

So, how does an ear trumpet work? Well, the conical design of an ear trumpet helps to collect sounds from the surroundings and channel them down the trumpet into the narrowest point which is closest to the ear. Unfortunately, these early hearing devices weren’t able to actually amplify the sound, so their effectiveness was limited. The need to hold the ear trumpet meant that they weren’t the most practical solution for daily use.

In 1800, Frederick C Rein, became the first person to commercially manufacture the ear trumpet design. Rein became an early pioneer of hearing aid design creating many variations of hearing devices in his lifetime.

Acoustic Headbands

Rein also developed one of the next hearing aid innovations, the acoustic headband. The acoustic headband offered the most discreet hearing solution. This hearing aid was designed to be worn by the wearer either within their hair or as a headband. This enabled the sound collectors to be positioned near the ears to amplify the acoustics.

Electronic Hearing Aids

It was during the late 19th century that hearing aids really started to advance. The ground-breaking invention of the telephone was a huge turning point. This seemingly unrelated creation helped to spark the invention of modern hearing aids

When the first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, it really paved the way for huge changes in the production of hearing aids. The fact that people could speak to each other through a receiver without being physically present was a real game changer. Thomas Edison, who experienced hearing loss himself, then built on Bell’s design. He produced a carbon transmitter that was designed to boost the electrical signal in the device and increase the number of decibels.

From here, hearing aid technology continued to develop. This brought about the first commercially manufactured hearing aids. These became available in the early 1900s. After this point, hearing aid technology began to advance far more quickly. From the 1920s onwards, the carbon design introduced by Edison began to be replaced by vacuum tubes. The vacuum tubes helped to better control the flow of electricity. The 1950s brought transistor technology to hearing aids. This enabled manufacturers to create smaller, more streamlined hearing aids, which felt lighter for the individual when wearing them.

Digital Hearing Devices

As computing began to advance at a high-speed in the 1980s, hearing aid technology followed the same trajectory. The biggest change of all was the shift from analog to digital hearing aids. All-digital hearing aids became the popular option during the 1990s. Now, the technology continued to change fast, as did the physical designs of the hearing aid, such as hidden hearing aids.

Find the Perfect Hearing Aid for Your Needs

Are you ready to enhance your life with new hearing aids? If you have noticed a change in your hearing, now is the time to act. Discover how wearing the right hearing aids can make a difference in your life. There are many hearing aid styles, like behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC), completely in canal (CIC) and invisible in canal (IIC). Your audiologist will be able to tailor a hearing aid to your specific needs.

Here at Hearing Solutions of Louisiana, LLC, our audiologist team can help you discover which hearing aids are best for your needs. Schedule an appointment with one of our team members to find the best solution for you. Contact us today by calling us at (337) 607-0630 to learn more.