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Future Directions for Hearing Aid Development

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Hearing Aids

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 56))

Abstract

Hearing aids will continue to be acoustic, customizable, wearable, battery-operated, and regulated medical devices. Future technology and research will improve how these requirements are met and add entirely new functions. Microphones, loudspeakers, digital signal processors, and batteries will continue to shrink in size to enhance existing functionality and allow new functionality with new forms of signal processing to optimize speech understanding, enhance spatial hearing, allow more accurate sound environment detection and classification to control hearing aid settings, implement self-calibration, and expand wireless connectivity to other devices and sensors. There also is potential to provide new signals for tinnitus treatment and delivery of pharmaceuticals to enhance cochlear hair cell and neural regeneration. Increased knowledge and understanding of the impaired auditory system and effective technology development will lead to greater benefit of hearing aids in the future.

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Conflict of interest

Gerald Popelka declares that he has no conflict of interest.Brian C.J. Moore has conducted research projects in collaboration with (and partly funded by) Phonak, Starkey, Siemens, Oticon, GNReseound, Bernafon, Hansaton, and Earlens. Brian C.J. Moore acts as a consultant for Earlens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 801 Welch Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Gerald R. Popelka

  2. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK

    Brian C. J. Moore

Authors
  1. Gerald R. Popelka
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  2. Brian C. J. Moore
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerald R. Popelka .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

    Gerald R. Popelka

  2. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Brian C. J. Moore

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

  4. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

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Popelka, G.R., Moore, B.C.J. (2016). Future Directions for Hearing Aid Development. In: Popelka, G., Moore, B., Fay, R., Popper, A. (eds) Hearing Aids. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 56. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33036-5_11

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