For many people, things like listening to music and making and receiving telephone calls are an everyday occurrence but for those who are hearing impaired or deaf, these things are nearly impossible because they require hearing capabilities they do not possess.

The latest in hearing aid technology is the Widex hearing aid which not only helps the hearing impaired hear static free voices, it allows them to listen to music and hear crystal-clear phone calls.

The Widex hearing aid is a virtually undetectable device featuring technology that links it to various MP3 players and Bluetooth devices such as cell phones.

Where the Widex hearing aid company specializes in adult’s hearing aids, the Unitron hearing aid industries specializes in hearing aids for children.  Unitron has a specially designed ‘Kids Klub’ which helps hearing impaired children accept their hearing aids and feel better about themselves.  The Unitron industries packs the children’s new hearing aid in a knapsack filled with educational and fun materials for the kids and their families.  They are designed with playful images in bright colors to help encourage children that hearing aids are a necessary yet fun part of their lives.

Another mainly adult hearing aid product is from Starkey Laboratories and it’s called the Ear Level Instrument product which the company claims will allow hearing aid users to make calls with any Bluetooth-compatible cell phone.

Hearing impaired people who use hearing aids often experience a buzzing or whistling sound that makes conversations over a cell phone extremely difficult or nearly impossible for them to hear.  The Federal Communications Commission has required cellular handset manufacturers to provide a small section of wireless cell phones that will significantly minimize or eliminate this interference. Starkey’s Ear Level Instrument or ELI device pairs Bluetooth phones with hearing aids, thereby expanding the number of hearing aid compatible cell phones. 

Many cell phone manufacturers say the cost to make their cellular handsets ‘hearing aid friendly’ is not cost-efficient for their company and are trying to get the Federal Communication Commission to overturn a ruling on this type of technology because it does not affect everyone.