When it comes to history, there are three different kinds of people: those who find history to be incredibly interesting, individuals who think history is terribly dull, and those who think history is full of aliens.

The history of hearing aids is not about aliens (sorry not sorry). But the true story is probably pretty strange too. Hearing loss is, after all, a human condition that has been around as long as we have. As a result, people have been finding clever ways to cope with hearing loss for hundreds of years, if not longer.

An appreciation for your incredible little digital devices, their functionality, and why it’s important to use them, can be gained by learning some history about them.

For thousands of years, people have been coping with hearing loss

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of hearing loss that dates back to the beginning of humanity. Fossil evidence reveals indicators of ear pathologies. It’s kind of amazing! Reports of hearing loss also start popping up once written language becomes a thing (for example, there are numerous Egyptian sources that mention hearing loss symptoms).

So, clearly, hearing loss is nothing new. And it wasn’t any better then than it is now (this is particularly true because it was harder to deal with then). Communication will be much harder if you have neglected hearing loss. Friends and family members may become more distant. In a more “hunter and gatherer” type of society, you might also lose your ability to detect danger (resulting in a shorter lifespan).

So going back thousands of years, humans have had an incentive to learn how to treat hearing loss. And they’ve even managed some very good successes!

A timeline of hearing aid-style devices

The first thing to appreciate 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 published record of precisely what ancient people did to relieve hearing loss, it’s very likely that they took steps in that direction.

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

• 1200s: Animal Horns: Hollowed out animal horns were used as some of the earliest proto-hearing aids. People most likely used this device to amplify sound and reduce the effect of hearing loss and evidence of this sort of device dates back to the 1200s. The idea was that the funnel-shape of a hollowed out animal bone would help move sound more directly into the ear. There was no amplification involved, so these animal horns weren’t working on the same level as a modern hearing aid (obviously). But they most likely help focus the sound you want to hear and limit distracting external sounds.
• 1600s: Ear Trumpet: The “cone shaped” hearing aid was the predominant form for hundreds of years. And that continued into the seventeenth century, when “ear trumpets” became a popular means of treating hearing loss. These contraptions looked, well, like trumpets. You’d put the small end in your ear. You could find them made out of a variety of materials (and with a surprising range of shapes). The early models were quite large and awkward. Eventually, clever individuals created smaller, more collapsible versions of these ear trumpets, so people could take them on the go. Since there was still no amplification, they were about as efficient as the larger versions. But they could funnel sounds into your ear, and direct sound more intentionally toward you.
• 1900s: Electronic Amplification: Okay, here we go: the invention of the carbon microphone (okay, the carbon microphone was really 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? Not really. In the early 1900s, these devices were giant, and not exactly wearable. The base concept was there, but the technology wasn’t refined enough to be truly practical.
• 1920s: Wearable Hearing Devices: Hello, vacuum tubes! The same technology that energized those old, extremely 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 permitted 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 giant leap! The same effect was now available with less cumbersome technology thanks to the invention of the transistor. It became a huge advantage, as a result of this technology, to bring your hearing aid with you wherever you went.
• 1970s and 1980s: Hearing Aids Get Smaller: Hearing aids became smaller as technology advanced. The 1970s and 80s, in particular, saw a substantial decrease in the size of hearing aids. Consequently, they became more prominent and easier to use. The amplification, sadly, was still very basic. They just amplified all of the sound they picked up. Most individuals need something a little more fine tuned to manage their hearing loss, but it was still better than nothing.
• 1982: Digital Hearing Aid: The first digital hearing aid was introduced 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 personalized amplification and clearer sound quality. With the introduction of digital hearing aids, treatment for hearing loss became much more effective 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 tiny devices. Wireless, Bluetooth technology came first. These days, modern hearing aids will help you hear better than ever by utilizing machine learning algorithms. This integration with other technologies makes hearing aids more efficient, and more convenient!

The most sophisticated hearing aids in history

For centuries or longer, humans have been working on treating hearing loss.
Better than at any other point in history, we are able to achieve that with modern hearing aids. And because they’re so beneficial, these little devices are also more popular than ever before. A wide variety of hearing problems can be addressed.

So hearing aids can help you if you want to create a better connection with your friends, family, or the clerk at your local pharmacy. (See? No aliens involved.)

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

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

https://www.hear-it.org/lighter-smaller-and-better