{"id":1499,"date":"2022-03-18T01:10:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T06:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/?p=1499"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:24:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:24:20","slug":"how-are-animals-helping-scientists-improve-hearing-aids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/how-are-animals-helping-scientists-improve-hearing-aids\/","title":{"rendered":"How Are Animals Helping Scientists Improve Hearing Aids?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Next time you shiver when you see a spider at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pdhp.org\/heller-nature-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heller Nature Center<\/a>, take comfort in the fact that they may one day make your hearing aids stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Spider Silk for Hearing Aids? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/pexels-pixabay-39494-1280x960.jpg\" alt=\"Spider web in the woods.\" class=\"wp-image-1501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/pexels-pixabay-39494-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/nsavl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/pexels-pixabay-39494-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nsavl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/pexels-pixabay-39494-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nsavl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/pexels-pixabay-39494-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies have shown that spider silk may be an ideal material to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.1710559114\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">create better directional microphones<\/a> in hearing aids. This could improve your ability to hear speech in places with a lot of background noise, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Work meetings or conferences<\/li><li>Busy restaurants<\/li><li>Large parties or family gatherings<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>Solving Hearing Aids \u201cCocktail-Party-Problem\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Spiders are not the only bug scientists are studying to enhance our hearing. Researchers at the University of Toronto are studying the unique hearing ability of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utoronto.ca\/news\/super-hearing-u-t-scientists-study-fly-develop-better-hearing-aids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a small fly known as <em>Ormia ochracea<\/em><\/a> in the hopes of solving what is known as the \u201ccocktail-party-problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This refers to the fact that hearing aid users sometimes struggle to understand speech in places with background noise. This can be especially true if you have to locate where a specific voice is coming from in a crowded environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<em>Ormia<\/em> have extremely accurate directional hearing due to the unique design of their ears. Unlike most animals, their eardrums are connected to each other. This allows them to quickly figure out which direction sound is coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hope is that engineers would be able to create sensor technology that could mimic the fly\u2019s eardrum and improve the ability of hearing aids to locate sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Get Help Now if You Have Signs of Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While these new discoveries are undoubtedly exciting and could one day improve hearing aid technology, they are years away from being available. Make sure to prioritize your hearing health now by keeping an eye out for early signs of hearing loss, which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Asking others to repeat themselves often<\/li><li>Difficulty following group conversations<\/li><li>Having a hard time hearing in places with background noise<\/li><li>Struggling to hear higher-pitched voices, particularly children<\/li><li>Having others comment that you have the TV or radio volume up too loud<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If any of these signs sound familiar, schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a <a href=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/hearing-loss\/testing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hearing test.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can quickly determine the degree of your hearing loss and come up with a treatment plan. This will likely include <a href=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/hearing-aids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">customized hearing aids<\/a> to meet your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While they may not use spider silk, modern hearing aids offer many features to enhance your listening experience, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Bluetooth\u2122 compatibility<\/li><li>Apps that let you adjust your device using your smartphone<\/li><li>Rechargeable batteries<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly, they help keep you connected to your loved ones and the world around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For additional information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, contact <span class=\"company-name \">North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/a-guide-to-single-sided-hearing-loss\/\" class=\"related-post\">A Guide To Single-Sided Hearing Loss<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/what-to-know-about-wearing-hearing-aids-in-bad-weather\/\" class=\"related-post\">What To Know About Wearing Hearing Aids in Bad Weather<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/what-to-know-about-high-frequency-hearing-loss-in-children\/\" class=\"related-post\">What To Know About High Frequency Hearing Loss in Children<br><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Next time you shiver when you see a spider at Heller Nature Center, take comfort in the fact that they may one day make your hearing aids stronger. Spider Silk for Hearing Aids? Studies have shown that spider silk may be an ideal material to create better directional microphones in hearing aids. This could improve&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1501,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Studies have shown that spider silk may be an ideal material to create better directional microphones in hearing aids. 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