Latest Advances in the Audiology Field

By Dez Duran-Lamanilao

According to the World Health Organizaiton (WHO), more than 460 million people across the globe have disabling hearing loss, and more than 30 million of these are children. These figures hint that by 2050, over 900 million individuals will suffer from such condition.

As such, people who are hard of hearing can live better if their hearing loss is diagnosed earlier, they get various forms of educational, emotional and social support, and they learn sign language and captioning. Finally, they can also use hearing aids and other electronic medical devices or assistive listening devices (ALDs). In the US, about 28.8 million US adults aged between 20 and 69 could benefit from using such devices.

Continuous developments abound in the audiology field. Some of these include Oticon’s iPhone App, which was launched in 2014, Apple’s filing of patent that will detect and integrate portable electronic devices and hearing aids, and cochlear implants, which are usually recommended for those suffering from severe to profound hearing loss. One of the greatest discoveries was the result of a collaboration among technology companies Intel, Ericsson, Toshiba and IBM that resulted to the creation of bluetooth, which has enabled advancement of alerting devices.

In the field of research, there are scientific discoveries about possible reversion of sensorineural hearing loss or prevention of it in the first place. In fact, there are also studies proving the possibility of an MRI magnet eventually being able to help individuals afflicted with balance disorders.

The yearly Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which was held in Las Vegas in January 2018 featured the latest technology and services of 4,000 exhibitors, marking the event as the world’s largest electronics trade show. Many of the products that were launched feature self-assessment or self-adjustment capabilities to “fine-tune” music and other sounds for both normal hearing and hard-of-hearing users. This development was said to be strengthened by legislation that will create a new category of “over-the-counter” (OTC) hearing aids.

Experts recommend that by age 60 years, everyone should have an initial, baseline assessment of their hearing. Those with normal results should undergo evaluations every two to three years while those diagnosed with hearing loss should have themselves tested yearly. There is a wide array of options that you can choose from if you have been diagnosed with hearing loss. These advancements are created to help you live a normal life and enjoy the company of your loved ones, without having to feel burdened by your condition.