Hearing aids have went through a large number of iterations in their 200-plus year history. The technology that is used in hearing aids has historically been developed because of a committed scientist who is either affected by hearing loss or has a loved one affected by hearing loss. For instance, Alexander Graham Bell’s mother had serious hearing loss and his wife was deaf.

Here are 10 other little-known facts about hearing aids:

1. Through state of the art technology like Bluetooth, hearing aids can be synced wirelessly with MP3 players, TVs, smart-phones, and other electronic products, allowing the user to enjoy direct signals from each of these devices.

2. Hearing aids are not one size fits all – in fact, they can and should be programmable. This means they have the potential to recall the most comfortable configurations for the user, often readjusting in real time to the surrounding environment.

3. Digital hearing aids – a recent invention — have tremendously lowered the occurrence of irritating feedback, echoes, and background sounds. These were par for the course as part of older technologies, and they made paying attention much more challenging.

4. Hearing aids have the capacity for improving upon and clarifying sound, as well as rendering it louder for the user.

5. When used in conjunction with special induction or hearing loops, hearing aid users can more clearly hear notifications in public places, meetings, airports, arenas, and other congested areas. This technology enhances sounds and minimizes all the background noise.

6. Hearing aids were once only manufactured in beige and related colors to fit in with people’s skin color, so that they were not easily recognizable. Today, users are embracing their hearing aid technology, displaying a variety of colors and patterns to flaunt their devices and stick out in a crowd.

7. Similarly, hearing aids are more compact than at any other time. They used to be large, cumbersome devices that weighed several pounds and didn’t really do much to amplify sound. Today, they only weigh a few ounces and provide remarkably better sound quality.

8. Today, you can purchase water resistant and waterproof hearing aids to better fit in with your lifestyle. Water resistant hearing aids can withstand low levels of humidity and moisture, while waterproof hearing aids can withstand higher levels of moisture during showering and even swimming.

9. Instead of having to frequently replace the batteries in hearing aids, many are now made with rechargeable technology to cut down on upkeep costs.

10. Hearing aids are not only for the hard of hearing — individuals suffering from tinnitus can often obtain relief from the constant ringing with the special tinnitus therapy components contained in many hearing aids.

Now that you know some interesting facts about hearing aids and their accompanying technology, you can better understand what they have to offer the young and the old alike.