It really is a sad story, but when I first heard it I laughed so hard I almost cried! A little old lady called our clinic the other day asking about “Blue mouth” technology. She didn't know what “Blue mouth” was, but was told it was exactly what she needed. She didn't own a cell phone, had never heard of an iPod or a mp3 player, and lived in an assisted living home.

She was referring to Bluetooth technology and it is absolutely wonderful if you have a cellphone or an iPod or mp3 player. You can actually talk on your cellphone through your hearing aids or connect to a TV, radio, or basically any device that has an audio out input jack. If you don't live in the world of Bluetooth or don't enjoy using more high tech devices, don't buy hearing aids that have all of these extra applications.
 

Hearing Aids today can be much more complicated than they were when I first started fitting them 20 years ago. I cannot tell you how many times that I have tried to explain memory buttons and different programmable settings. I can program the instruments and explain their functions, only to find the patient's eyes slowly glaze over into never-never-land.
 

If you have the type of personality that hates pushing buttons and can't remember to remember to change your memory settings, then don't order hearing aids with all of the extra gadgetry. I will never forget when memory buttons were first introduced years ago and being so excited to program different memories. I would explain in detail for 45 minutes how memory 1 is normal, memory 2 is used for noisy situations, memory 3 is for music, and memory 4 is for telephone usage. At the follow up appointment I would ask, “Well, how did you like your memory button?” Only to be told, “What did you say honey? What button are you talking about darling?” I would check the hearing aid to find the patient had it on memory 4 for telephone usage which works great for telephones, but not so great with one on one conversations. I learned right then that while technological innovation is great, it only works for people who will understand and use it.
 

If you are the type of person that does not like pushing buttons or need Bluetooth, you can order a hearing aid that will automatically switch memories for you when you walk into noisy situations, so you don't have to do a thing! On the other hand, if you are an engineer or someone that is very technically savvy, you may want every bell, whistle, and button that we can put on the hearing aid so you can control how it sounds to you.
 

Hearing aid technology has come a long way, even in just the last five years and we can do things with new hearing aids that we couldn't dream of doing 15 years ago. Talk to your hearing professional about your personality and what hearing aid would best fit your lifestyle to help ensure that you have a wonderful overall new listening experience.