Ivor Lewis
As a fully qualified Fellowship member of both the British, and the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, he has years of advanced training both locally and nationally.
Find Out More About Ivor
Here at Hidden Hearing, we have a great range of hearing aids, including the latest devices, which are highly sophisticated and use intelligent technology to give you the best hearing experience while making your life easier, too. However, hearing aids haven’t always been the impressive option they are today, and it is possible to look back at the hearing solutions of history to see how far we’ve come.
How Has Hearing Aid Technology Changed Through History?
- The earliest hearing aids. Experts believe that the first hearing devices fashioned for people with hearing loss were wooden, carved into the shapes of animal ears. These are mentioned in Natural Magick, a book published in 1588, and it is believed that animal species with particularly good hearing were chosen as models.
Ear trumpets. Literature and art of the 17th and 18th centuries shows the popularity of ear trumpets for the hard of hearing. Shaped like a trumpet or horn, the devices were conical, and funneled sounds into the user’s ear. These were sometimes made of glass, animal horns and seashells, but were also fashioned from metal in later years.- Wearable hearing aids. Hearing aids were incorporated into clothing and hairstyles in the 1800s, becoming a fashion accessory for those with hearing loss. This is a trend that is re-emerging today, with hearing aids competing with smartwatches to offer interactive wearable technology.
- Electrical hearing aids. Once electricity was invented, hearing aid technology developed quickly. Initially, batteries were large and were worn around the neck.
- The invention of the transistor. The development of the transistor, in the 1950s, meant smaller, more compact hearing aids that were more practical for daily use.
The digital age. Since the mid 1990s, digital technology has taken over in hearing aid development. Today, hearing aids can connect to Bluetooth, sync with wireless devices, and sit inside the ear canal so that they are invisible to others.
Try The Latest Digital Hearing Aids at Hidden Hearing
If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to see a specialist as soon as possible. Untreated hearing loss can cause many additional problems, so don’t let worries about wearing a hearing aid put you off. Our expert audiologists are on hand to talk you through the process, from hearing test to hearing solution, and we understand that it can be difficult to take the first step.
Visit us at Hidden Hearing for a free hearing test, and explore our excellent range of discreet and effective hearing aids. We are Ireland’s leading private provider of hearing care solutions, and our national network includes over seventy-five branches and clinics. Contact Hidden Hearing online today, or pop into your local branch
