What does an audiologist think about the amplification technology in Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2? You might be surprised. Dr. Natalie McKee, Au.D. weighs in on the fascinating new frontier of earbuds and hearing health.
Warren in Bloomington asks, “How have you noticed the public’s feelings about hearing aids change in the last 10 years?” The size argument is usually the biggest thing that we have to deal with because of the stigma associated with hearing loss, and the hearing aids looking large and clunky. So a lot of people still maintain that image in their mind when they think of a hearing aid. But we’ve really done away with a lot of those issues with the advent of micro-chipping. And I think the thing that’s even more amazing is that they’ve made things smaller while still improving sound quality, the sophistication of the processors, and integrating the devices into our everyday lives. So we, as hearing-impaired people, feel more like we’re a regular part of everyday life, and we don’t have to have all these exceptions made in order for us to participate in things. And now with smartphones and remote-control capabilities, patients can take control of their environment right then and there, and have better outcomes. And that improves satisfaction! So yes, the fact that they’ve been able, over the last 10 years, to make things smaller, while also improving the quality of the sound and the technology, has really made considering amplification an easier option for people these days. I’m Dr. Natalie McKee from Bloomington-Normal Audiology, and we’re ‘hear’ for you.