Hearing aids have been around for decades, potentially helping millions (billions) with auditory impairments. Today, this news caught my ear: a smart hearing aid. Researchers at Fortell have created an impressive device, dubbed “the world’s most intelligent hearing aid.” Sachin and Adam discuss Fortell’s device in the video Building an AI Ear. It addresses the problem of filtering out ambient distracting noise.
This exciting new technology is a boon for children and adults alike.
Varied types of technology provide useful tools for reading and writing, as described in Assistive Technology by Filippini and Morey. Hearing difficulties make learning to read a challenge, because a reader must blend discrete sounds together into a whole word, as in sounding out champ as ch-a-m-p, and blending the sounds together. See Filippini’s post on Phonemes and Morphemes for everyone, including those with specific learning difficulties.
A partial solution for hearing difficulties? Yes. That’s a win!
Ps. It is possible that hearing difficulties may be liked to dementia. Read Neurol (2025) Hearing impairment and dementia: cause, catalyst or consequence?
