The Surprising Connection Between Hearing Aids and Augmented Reality

Imagine, if you will, a smart device that goes in your ear. A device equipped with selective noise cancellation, automatic language translation, custom sound controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. No, I\'m not describing a hyper-advanced hearing aid, though I might well be.

I\'m talking about a new type of headphone referred to by publication CNet as smart hearables, the future of augmented reality. This technology, referred to as smart hearables, could be the next wave of must-have consumer technology, the next step up from Google Glass. Another step towards a hyperconnected future where everything up to and including our senses is connected to the Internet. 

For those of you who wear hearing aids, much of the technology surrounding smart hearables sounds incredibly familiar. There\'s a very good reason for that. At least some of the technology in these new smart devices is actually drawn from the audiology field. 

What that means is that we may be on the cusp of a new wave of smart devices that also double as automatically adjustable hearing aids. Some, such as the Nuheara IQBuds2 Max, even use a version of the same test used by audiologists to make speech more intelligible and reduce background noise. Others use an app that allows you to customize and tweak them to your exact preference, hearing, and comfort level.

Where professional hearing aids are concerned, the proliferation of smart hearables could have a few noteworthy impacts. First, as is often the case with newer technology, they could lessen the gulf between consumer devices and medically-provisioned devices. Second, we may see modern hearing aids eventually incorporating some of the more interesting features of smart hearables, like language translation and interconnectivity with other AR devices. 

Both rather exciting prospects, no? 

At the moment, however, these changes are likely still a few years off. Smart headphones are still prohibitively expensive compared to traditional headphones and headsets, meaning there are relatively few people who can afford or justify their purchase. Those with hearing impairment will likely be better served purchasing a professional hearing aid, at this juncture.

For anyone who\'s been paying attention, this is a familiar song and dance. Every new connected device and AR gadget starts off with a wallet-busting cost. Eventually, as the tech behind them becomes more advanced and readily available, the price goes down, even as more features are added. 

Now we just have to hope that these smart devices don\'t end up flopping spectacularly like Google Glass. 

Ultimately, we stand on the verge of not just the future of wearable technology, but potentially the future of hearing aid technology, as well. Before much longer, hearing aids may not solely be devices to help the hearing impaired, but tools that allow us to be more connected to the world around us. Before much longer, dealing with hearing impairment may be as simple as downloading the right app for your headphones.