There are three types of individuals out there: those who find history to be incredibly fascinating, people who think history is horribly boring, and those who believe history is full of aliens.

The history of hearing aids isn’t full of aliens (sorry not sorry). But it’s probably a lot stranger than you may think. After all, hearing loss isn’t exactly a new thing; it’s been around as long as we have. As a result, people have been exploring clever ways to cope with hearing loss for centuries, if not longer.

Knowing the history of your hearing aids can give you a deeper appreciation of how your own little, digital devices work, and why you should wear them more frequently.

Hearing loss has existed for thousands of years

Archaeologists have found evidence of hearing loss that goes back to the beginning of mankind. Fossil evidence reveals signs of ear pathologies. It’s fairly cool! Reports of hearing loss also start showing up as soon as written language becomes a thing (for example, there are many Egyptian sources that discuss hearing loss symptoms).

Which is to say, hearing loss isn’t new. And it’s likely always kind of awful (especially when left untreated). When you have untreated hearing loss, you will find it more difficult to communicate. You may lose touch with friends and family members. When humans were a bit more primitive, untreated hearing loss could result in a shorter lifespan as they may not have been capable of detecting danger.

Humans, thus, have had a great incentive to treat hearing loss going back thousands of years. And they’ve even managed some terrific successes!

The progression of hearing aid like devices

The first thing to know is that our history of hearing aids is not complete. Not all evidence of hearing devices is documented through time. Even if we don’t have a written record of exactly what ancient people did to relieve hearing loss, it’s very likely that they took measures in that direction.

Still, here’s what the recognized “hearing aid timeline” looks like:

• 1200s: Animal Horns: Hollowed out animal horns served as some of the first proto-hearing aids. Evidence of this type of hearing device goes back to the 1200s, and it’s likely people used them to help minimize the impacts of hearing loss. The concept was that the funnel-shape of a hollowed out animal bone would help conduct sound more directly into the ear. 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 control distracting outside sounds.
• 1600s: Ear Trumpet: The “cone shaped” hearing aid was the prominent format for hundreds of years. And that persisted into the seventeenth century, when “ear trumpets” became a desirable means of treating hearing loss. These devices looked, well, like trumpets. You’d stick the narrow end in your ear. You could find them made out of a wide array of materials (and with a surprising range of shapes). The early models were rather large and unwieldy. Subsequently, more portable models that could be carried around with you were created. Because there was still no amplification, they were about as efficient as the larger versions. But they could carry sound more directly to your ear.
• 1900s: Electronic Amplification: Alright, here we go: the development of the carbon microphone (okay, the carbon microphone was actually invented in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t really employed for hearing aids until later). Their ability to amplify should have made hearing aids reliable and practical, right? Well, not so much. In the early 1900s, these devices were huge, and not really wearable. The technology would need quite a bit of refinement before it would be very useful.
• 1920s: Wearable Hearing Devices: Say hello to vacuum tubes! The same technology that powered those old, incredibly bulky television sets was actually cutting edge, once upon a time! These vacuum tubes allowed (relatively) smaller, wearable hearing aids to be made, the size of a backpack. Slightly clearer sound and improved amplification were also possible.
• 1940s: Pocket-Sized Hearing Aids: From fitting a hearing aid in a backpack to being able to put one in your purse or pocket, it’s a huge leap! This was because of the development of the transistor, which meant you needed less technological bulk to accomplish the same impact. As a result of this advancement, people could conveniently take hearing aids with them wherever they went, it was a huge benefit!
• 1970s and 1980s: Hearing Aids Get Smaller: As technologies advanced, hearing aids became smaller. The 1970s and 80s, particularly, saw a considerable decrease in the size of hearing aids. Consequently, they became more popular and easier to use. 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 successfully treat their hearing loss.
• 1982: Digital Hearing Aid: The first digital hearing aid was introduced in 1982, though it wasn’t commercially available until 1996. Digital hearing aids changed the hearing aid landscape by making everything smaller and more discrete while providing personalized amplification and better sound quality. With the introduction of digital hearing aids, treatment for hearing loss became much more potent and successful.
• 2000s (and Beyond): Hearing Aids Get Wireless and Smart: Since the introduction of the digital hearing aid, manufacturers have been able to stack more and more technology into these little devices. Wireless, Bluetooth connectivity came first. These days, contemporary hearing aids will help you hear better than ever by utilizing machine learning algorithms. This integration with other technologies makes hearing aids more effective, and more convenient!

History’s most advanced hearing aids

For centuries or longer, humans have been working on treating hearing loss.
Contemporary hearing aids can attain that better than at any time in human history. These little pieces of technology are more prevalent than they ever have been because they’re so effective. A wide range of hearing issues can be addressed.

So if you want to get back to connecting with your children or your family or the cashier at the checkout lane, hearing aids can help you do it. (See? No aliens involved.)

Learn how hearing aids can improve your life. Call us for an appointment.

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment

References
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/hearing-aid-history-ear-trumpets-european-royalty-earbuds