Audiology
resides in an ever changing landscape; we see it on a daily basis. In regards
to hearing aids and other amplification devices, we’ve seen changes in size, shape, and function. Today, along with the common ear-level, air conduction
hearing aids, personal sound amplification devices (PSAPs) are gaining
popularity.
Many modern PSAPs may also be referred to as “wearable’s” to be
consistent with the popular devices such as wearable fitness trackers, smart
watches, etc. If the term “wearable” is not appealing, maybe the term
“hearable” is. The term “hearable” modified from “wearable” has been coined to provide consumers a more accurate and specific image. There are many
similarities between modern hearing aids and PSAPs that allow for easy
comparison. Both hearing aids and PSAPs are programmable to change user
settings appropriate for different listening environments. Both types of
devices have wireless capabilities, such as Bluetooth, to allow for
communication between multiple types of devices.