When it comes to history, there are three distinct types of individuals: individuals who find history to be incredibly fascinating, people who think history is horribly dull, and people who believe history is full of aliens.
The history of hearing aids is not about aliens (sorry not sorry). But the real story is probably pretty strange as well. Hearing loss is, after all, a human challenge that has been here as long as we have. Consequently, people have been uncovering clever ways to deal with hearing loss for hundreds of years, if not longer.
Being aware of the history of your hearing aids can give you a deeper appreciation of how your own little, digital devices work, and why you should use them more frequently.
Hearing loss has been around for thousands of years
Evidence of hearing loss dating back to the very start of human existence has been found by archaeologists. They can see signs of ear pathologies in fossil evidence. It’s kind of amazing! Reports of hearing loss also start showing up once written language is created (for example, there are many Egyptian sources that discuss hearing loss symptoms).
So, clearly, hearing loss is nothing new. And it’s likely always kind of awful (particularly when neglected). When you have untreated hearing loss, you will find it harder to communicate. Friends and loved ones may become more distant. When humans were a little more primitive, untreated hearing loss could result in a shorter lifespan as they might not have been able to detect danger.
Humans, thus, have had a strong incentive to deal with hearing loss for thousands of years. And they’ve even managed some terrific successes!
A timeline of hearing aid-style devices
The first thing to recognize is that our history of hearing aids isn’t complete. Not all evidence of hearing devices is recorded through time. Even if we don’t have a written record of exactly what ancient people did to alleviate hearing loss, it’s very likely that they took steps in that direction.
Still, here’s what the recognized “hearing aid timeline” looks like:
- 1200s: Animal Horns: Hollowed out animal horns were used as some of the first proto-hearing aids. People most likely used this device to amplify sound and decrease the impact of hearing loss and evidence of this sort of device dates back to the 1200s. Sound would be more directly carried to the ear with the funnel shaped horn. Obviously, this device isn’t working like a modern hearing aid because there is no amplification. But they most likely help focus the sound you want to hear and limit distracting outside sounds.
- 1600s: Ear Trumpet: For centuries, the “cone shaped” hearing device was the prevalent form. These “ear trumpets” were a favored way to manage hearing loss through the seventeenth century. They were known as “ear trumpets” because, well, that’s what they looked like. You’d stick the small end in your ear. They came in a wide range of shapes and materials. Initially, they were large and burdensome. Subsequently, more portable versions that could be carried around with you were created. Because there was still no amplification, they were roughly as effective as the larger versions. But they could bring sound more directly to your ear.
- 1900s: Electronic Amplification: Okay, here we go: the invention of the carbon microphone (okay, the carbon microphone was actually developed in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t really implemented for hearing aids until later). This should begin amplifying and make hearing aids a shoo-in for effectiveness, right? Well, not so much. In the early 1900s, these devices were big, and not really wearable. The base idea was there, but the technology wasn’t refined enough to be truly useful.
- 1920s: Wearable Hearing Devices: Then came vacuum tubes! The same technology that energized those old, incredibly bulky television sets was actually state-of-the-art, at that time! These vacuum tubes allowed (relatively) smaller, wearable hearing aids to be made, the size of a backpack. New technologies also enabled better amplification and slightly clearer sound.
- 1940s: Pocket-Sized Hearing Aids: From fitting a hearing aid in a backpack to being able to put one in your pocket or purse, it’s a significant leap! The same effect was now possible with less bulky technology thanks to the invention of the transistor. As a result of this advancement, people could conveniently bring hearing aids with them wherever they went, it was a huge benefit!
- 1970s and 1980s: Hearing Aids Get Smaller: Hearing aids got smaller as technology advanced. Hearing aids got substantially smaller in the 1970s and 80s. This made them easier to use, and more popular. The amplification, unfortunately, was still very basic. These hearing aids basically just made everything louder. It was better than nothing, but still not really what most people needed to effectively treat their hearing loss.
- 1982: Digital Hearing Aid: The first digital hearing aid was unveiled in 1982, though it was not available commercially until 1996. Digital hearing aids changed the hearing aid landscape by making everything smaller and more discrete while offering custom amplification and clearer sound quality. With the advent of digital hearing aids, treatment for hearing loss became much more effective and efficient.
- 2000s (and Beyond): Hearing Aids Get Wireless and Smart: Since the introduction of the digital hearing aid, manufacturers have been able to cram more and more technology into these little devices. This started with Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Today, modern hearing aids will help you hear better than ever by using machine learning algorithms. Hearing aids are more convenient and more effective as a result of this integration with other technologies.
History’s best hearing aids
Mankind has been working on and bettering hearing loss for centuries, at least.
Better than at any other time in history, we are able to achieve that with contemporary hearing aids. These little pieces of technology are more popular than they ever have been because they’re so beneficial. They can help with a wider range of hearing problems.
So hearing aids can help you if you want to create a stronger connection with your friends, family, or the clerk at your local pharmacy. (See? No aliens involved.)
Learn how hearing aids can improve your life. Call us for an appointment.
References
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/hearing-aid-history-ear-trumpets-european-royalty-earbuds
https://www.hear-it.org/lighter-smaller-and-better