Consumer Sentiment Shows NANO Hearing Aids Rising in Popularity
By Space Coast Daily // August 27, 2020
The new wireless app-controlled technology of Nano Hearing Aids is a next-generation hearing device that is quickly becoming a top consumer choice. When considering Nano hearing aid reviews, it is no longer just for the senior population, but also a popular choice for the younger, technology inspired generation.
Today, consumers literally face analysis paralysis when choosing a hearing aid online. Concerned by cheap unproven devices from China and Asia, many opt for the safety offered by trusted American brands ranked by top retailers and reviewed by the masses. The hearing aids of the future are here: according to hearing aid reviews on retailer sites and hearing aids in the news, new technology and American innovation are making a difference.
What is a NANO hearing aid?
A tiny little hearing aid has surprised people to the upside: so small and almost invisible, yet so powerful and effective. These micro devices are often called NANO hearing aids, but to be clear: this is actually the name of the brand founded by Robert Carlson in the US. So it would be inaccurate to refer to the devices made by Costco, MD hearing aids, Phonak and others by using the same terminology.
This video will may serve as a good introduction to the original NANO hearing aid:
A brief history of hearing aids:
The first hearing aid was made by Miller Reese Hutchison in 1898, it was rather unmanageable, and a completely stationary device. But by 1913 the first commercially manufactured hearing aid was brought onto the public market. Since then many others have experimented with hearing aid technology to produce the best hearing aids to date at the most affordable prices. However, with the introduction of more and more modern and digital technologies, hearing aids have become evermore tailored to suit different environmental circumstances, they’ve become technology-savvy while at the same time provide better hearing to those who need it. Yet who are the people who need hearing aids? The elderly or people born with hearing impairments? The answer isn’t always this clearcut, anyone can suffer from hearing impairments for a number of reasons. In this article, we will look at the issue of hearing loss in the US, focusing quite narrowly on the prevalence of hearing loss among children and young- and middle-aged adults. Then, in case you do not know, we will discuss the causes of hearing loss, and naturally, how hearing aids have been used as a solution or treatment for hearing loss. This article will then hone in on Nano Hearing Aids, an online hearing aid support company that calls their brand of hearing aids the “hearing aid of the future”.
Today, how common is hearing loss in the US?
According to research conducted by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, with 35% of them under the age of 65. The NIDCD also reported that 2% of adults aged 45-54 suffer from hearing loss, which increases to 8.5% between the age of 55-64, and again to 25% of people between the age of 65-74, and then to nearly 50% of adults over the age of 75, experience some form of hearing loss. If we were to look at the percentages more generally, one in every eight US citizens over the age of 12, that is 13%, have reported hearing loss in one or both ears.
Hearing aids not only for the elderly:
The loss of hearing is usually a condition associated with the elderly, as is the need for hearing aids. Yet further research conducted on the matter has shown an increasing number of children, teenages and young adults experience the need for hearing aids. According to data collected by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6,500 US infants were identified as having permanent hearing loss in 2017, and the prevalence of infants born with some sort of hearing disability was, at the time, 1.7 per 1000 infants screened for hearing loss. Hearing loss among infants can be caused by a multitude of factors. The CDC reported that about 20% of infants with hearing loss were children born with a type of “syndrome”, such as Down syndrome or Usher syndrome. But hearing loss among children can also be a result of pregnancy complications, environmental factors and complications after birth, which accounts for almost 30% of infants with hearing loss. Alternatively, among teenages, young- and middle-aged adults, the NIDCD reported that at least 24% display features of hearing loss that are specifically due to excessive, and continued noise exposure, and that 17% of teenagers in the US have noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears. Excessive and continued exposure to loud noises is only one of many factors that can contribute to hearing loss, let’s discuss it in more detail now.
Causes of hearing loss and the use of hearing aids
While age, and the degradation of sensory cells in the ear, is one of the most common factors in predicting hearing loss among adults between 20-69 years old, with the greatest recorded hearing loss occurring between the age of 60-69; among children it is a different matter. Hearing loss can either result from congenital or acquired causes. Hearing loss as a result of congenital causes, most often reported among children, can be caused by hereditary and non-hereditary factors, or by complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Congenital hearing loss presents at birth or shortly thereafter. Acquired causes, however, can result in hearing loss at any age. Acquired hearing loss can be caused by numerous factors such as, infectious diseases like meningitis, mumps or measles, chronic ear infections, the collection of fluids in the ear, called otitis media, which is also common among children, and then as we’ve already mentioned, excessive noise either from occupational machinery, explosions or exposure to loud recreational noises, which is most common among young and middle-age adults. Hearing loss can also result from an injury to the head or ear, to foreign objects simply blocking the ear canal.
Hearing loss can affect individuals in very different ways, whether functionally, socially or emotionally. One of the biggest functional impacts for individuals who have hearing impairments is their ability to communicate with others, and among young children this especially affects and delays their speech and language development. If we look at teenages and adults, 40% of young adults, with hearing loss that was identified in their childhood, reported experiencing one or more forms of limitations in their daily functioning. The social and emotional impacts of hearing loss, especially the effects of exclusion from communication, vary from person to person but generally include feelings such as isolation, exclusion, frustration and loneliness. The use of hearing aids have proven to significantly improve people’s quality of life for the better and mitigating the impacts of hearing loss. According to the NIDCD, about 28.8 million Americans can benefit from the use of hearing aids, yet fewer than 30% over the age of 75 have ever made use of them, and even fewer between the ages of 20-69 have ever used a hearing aid. This may however be due to several different factors, for example some people may not realise they have hearing loss, others struggle to cope with the sensory input provided by hearing aids, and then there’s the fact that many people simply cannot afford to purchase hearing aids. And this point brings me to Nano Hearing Aids, an online company based out of Arizona, who provide accessible and affordable hearing aids, using the best and latest hearing aid and digital technology. Nano hearing aids can be purchased from their online store for between $397 and $797, depending on the model. Unlike other hearing aids on the market, Nano hearing aids are sold at a fraction of what other hearing aids would normally go for, making hearing support aid devices accessible to anyone in need regardless of their financial situation.
Types and styles of hearing aids
Hearing aids are essentially sound amplifying devices that aid people who suffer from hearing loss. Most hearing aids consist of the same components: a microphone that collects sounds, an amplifier circuitry that magnifies the sound, a small loudspeaker that acts as a receiver that delivers the sound to the ear, and batteries that power all the parts of the hearing aid. Aside from these basic components, hearing aids can differ slightly in style, the design and the digital or analog technology used to manufacture them.
So hearing aids are either digital or analog. Analog hearing aids are constructed to make continuous sound louder. It amplifies all sounds, whether it is conversations or simply noise, in much the same way. Analog hearing aids are also programmable through a microchip in the hearing aid which allows its user to switch between pre-installed settings for different noise and listening environments. The programmable analog hearing aids can store multiple programmes for various environments, and by pushing a button on the hearing aid, users can change the settings as their environments change. Digital hearing aids have all the same features of an analog hearing aid, but instead of simply amplifying sound, digital hearing aids convert sound waves into digital signals and produce an exact replica of sounds and feed it into your ear. The microchips of digital hearing aids better analyze sound waves and environment and backgrounds noises too, and have better programmable capabilities than analog hearing aids do. This allows the sound that digital hearing aids can produce to match the needs of a specific individual’s listening needs. Due to the vast difference in the programmable capabilities between analog and digital hearing aids, analog hearing aids are becoming less and less common as more people in search of hearing aid support devices are only offered a range of digital hearing aids to choose from.
Hearing aids are also produced in a variety of different styles. Firstly, we have the behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid where most of the hearing aid’s components are contained in a small plastic casing with wires fed through a clear tubing into an earmold or earpiece. This is an optimal option for children who would need to constantly replace their earmold or earpiece to fit their ear as they grow. The BTE are easily handled, cleaned and generally sturdy devices. The mini-BTE, a new smaller version of the BTE that fits on or behind the ear, has an almost invisible tube attaching the hearing aid to the ear canal. The mini-BTE have slightly more comfortable earpieces that reduces that “plugged-in” feeling and reduces feedback noises. It also has a less conspicuous design for users with cosmetic concerns. The second style of hearing aid is the in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid where all the components of the hearing aid are housed in a shell that fills the outer region of the ear. ITE hearing aids are much larger and therefore easier to handle than their in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid counterparts. The in-the-canal (ITC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids consist of very small compartments that fit partly or completely in the ear. ITC and CIC are the smallest hearing aids on the market, but because they are so small it is harder for people to handle and adjust them according to their individual environments.
The style and design of hearing aid you choose will depend on the severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and of course your listening needs. Now that we know some of the basics of hearing aid devices and how they work, we can finally look to Nano Hearing Aids, a brand of hearing aid support devices that have, for reasons that we will discuss below, taken the American market by storm as one of the top selling, and affordable hearing aid brands online.
Nano Hearing Aids
Nano Hearing Aids was founded in 2017 with the mission to assist the 48 million Americans with hearing impairments to find the best hearing device, yet at one twentieth of the price of traditional hearing aids on the market. They did this by cutting out the middleman. The company teamed up with engineers to create Nano’s powerful hearing technology. Nano hearing aids are almost invisible, and accompanied with the latest digital hearing technology, making them one of the best quality hearing aids for the low price they sell for. Because Nano Hearing Aids cuts out the middleman and sells directly to customers, they are able to significantly reduce the prices of their hearing aid thus making it affordable and accessible to people who may not have been able to afford hearing aids otherwise. Nano Hearing Aids aim to provide you with the best possible to suit your hearing needs, and importantly your budget. They also offer free shipping in the US and 45-day money-back guarantee if you are dissatisfied, or received a faulty set.
Nano Hearing Aids have several different models that you may choose from, each model sporting some innovative features and digital technology to suit the listening needs of a variety of different people. Nano’s hearing aids are powered either by a rechargeable battery, A13 battery or a 312 battery depending on the model. Their best sellers are the RX2000, the X2 and the X2R, and the latest model, the Nano Sigma.
The RX2000 is one of Nano Hearing Aids’ first models but is still equipped with relatively modern technology. It is the cheapest set of the range and goes for $397 a pair. The RX2000 comes with a rechargeable battery (chargeable through a micro-USB cord) that needs 2 hours of charging for a 16-hour battery life. It also has noise reduction technology and 2 sound environment settings. The RX2000 is a BTE model with a very discreet look, easy to use on/off button, a up and down volume button and environment buttons. The RX2000 is extremely easy to use and adjust. It is a very good entry-level set and one of the most affordable hearing aids on the market today.
The next model, X2 is a very discrete model and nearly invisible even if you wear glasses. The X2 is priced at $697 a per. It is fitted with a 312 battery and comes with 4 different environment settings for you to choose from. The selling points of the X2 is that it works with Nano’s highest-performing noise cancelling technology to help you hear the sounds you want to hear. It has 2 directional microphones per hearing aid, making it 4 per set, and feedback cancelling and adaptive technology that allows you to personally set the perfect volume and environment setting to your listening needs and physical environment. The X2 is a very easy to use model and allows you to adjust your volume and environment settings with just a push of a button.
The X2R is a model similar to the X2 with most of the same features as the X2, yet is priced slightly higher at $797 a set. Unlike the X2, the X2R is equipped with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 hours when charged for 3 hours. It comes with a free portable charging device for an extra 48 hours of battery use. The X2R, like X2, also works with background noise cancelling technology, 2 directional microphones per hearing aid, has 4 environment settings, and an automatic feedback canceller. The X2R is a very easy to use BTE model, with up and down volume buttons and a frequency setting which allows you to adjust to hearing aid to different environments. It is almost completely invisible, it is considered one of Nano Hearing Aids’ top models.
The Nano Sigma is Nano Hearing Aids’ bestseller and also priced at $797. What makes the Nano Sigma so innovative is the new wireless digital hearing technology that it works with. With the Nano Sigma, you are able to control the volume and environment settings of your hearing aid completely from your phone. It is the only model of Nano hearing aids that boast this feature. The Nano Sigma is a BTE hearing aid, nearly invisible and indiscreet model. It has 4 environment settings for you to choose from, and also makes use of background reduction technology, digital feedback processing, feedback cancelation and adaptive technology.
The “smart” features of Nano Hearing Aids
Nano Hearing Aids make use of the latest digital and hearing aid technology in all of their hearing aid models. Nano’s newest model, the Sigma Wireless Digital Hearing Aid takes it one step further. It is specifically equipped with bluetooth technology that allows you to control your hearing aid through Nano’s mobile app that you can download on your smartphone or any other handheld device. With Nano’s mobile app, you are then able to adjust your hearing aid, via your smartphone, to your physical surroundings. It has four different settings for you to choose from: a conversational and all-around sounds setting; a restaurant setting which is more a noise reduction setting; and then a TV and an outdoors setting for you to choose from directly from your smartphone. This new wireless Nano Sigma hearing aid is taking the US by storm as Nano Hearing Aids calls it the model of the future. With the Nano Sigma, you can do a hearing test straight off your smartphone and adjust your hearing aids to your test results in one simple click. The ability to control your hearing aid from a smartphone has made these hearing aids extremely easy to use and adjust, and because Nano’s mobile app can simply be added to the list of other apps on your phone, the Nano Sigma has become a popular choice of hearing aid for teenagers, and young and middle-aged adults with hearing loss. The technology of the Nano Sigma gives you total control, from testing the extent of your hearing loss and setting your hearing aids, to the ability to control your hearing aid setting by adjusting them to the different environments and situations you may find yourself in, it’s all up to you. Aside from the Nano Sigma, Nano’s remaining hearing aids all work with background noise cancelling technology and come equipped with various environment settings. The X2, the X2R and the Nano Sigma, however, also work with digital sound processing, feedback cancellation, directional microphones and adaptive technology.
Nano client reviews
Just as much as young and middle-aged adults have come to love Nano hearing aids, according to Nano hearing aid reviews, Nano hearing aids are also simply adored by the elderly. The fact that they are so easy to set up, use and adjust, makes Nano hearing aid a popular choice among older people who have had trouble finding a hearing aid that works for them. And because they are so easily used and adjustable, even the older generation will be able to easily maneuver themselves through the environment and volume settings. Just by watching and reading the customer reviews on Nano Hearing Aids webpage it’s easy to see why people are so pleased with these hearing aids. But not only that, customers also praise the level of ease when purchasing their hearing aids online and expressed satisfaction with the quality of customer service of Nano Hearing Aid employees. The company pointed out that “… dealing with any faulty hearing aid sets is simple and quick: people can simply have it returned and replaced with new pairs..”. Many customers have even said their Nano hearing aids exceeded their expectations considering the price they paid for their set of hearing aids.
A final scoop on hearing aids:
Nano hearing aids are made from reliable hearing aid and digital technology that has proven to work for thousands of people with hearing loss in the US. Their customer reviews are testament to the durability, the affordability, and the ease of use of Nano Hearing Aids. Yet, there’s no harm in doing your own research on the different hearing aid brands on the market, it is always a good thing to check out other brands of hearing aids, or consult a specialist if you remain uncertain after doing your own research of which hearing aid is best for you.
