You’ve probably heard the phrase “artificial intelligence” or “AI” before. In recent years, AI technology has rapidly transformed industries, and hearing health care is no exception. One 2024 study examined the role machine learning (a function of AI) plays in preventing, diagnosing, and managing hearing loss. Let’s examine the study’s conclusions regarding the benefits of AI in hearing health care.
AI’s Potential in Enhancing the Patient Experience
AI has the ability to analyze audiometric (hearing) data to predict hearing loss progression. For example, an AI program could look at your genetic information, symptoms, use of certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs that can damage the inner ear, and level of loud noise exposure to identify the path your hearing health will most likely take.
Using these AI predictions, your hearing expert can help implement a hearing treatment plan that includes preventative measures to minimize the likelihood of hearing loss. These measures may include switching medication where possible, regular ear exams, custom earplugs, and more.
AI’s Role in Diagnosing Hearing Loss
Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential in finding the right treatments and minimizing the side effects of untreated hearing loss. Traditional tests, like pure-tone and speech tests, help determine the type and severity of hearing loss, but using machine learning can improve diagnosis by recognizing patterns in the data from these tests, even detecting issues that might be missed with standard methods.
AI’s Role in Hearing Aids
AI has made leaps and bounds in improving the wearer’s hearing aid experience. Using advanced AI processing, hearing aids can automatically recognize the type of environment you’re in (like a noisy restaurant or quiet room) and adjust their settings to enhance speech and sound quality. Some hearing aids even have a feature that focuses on the speech of a specific person while reducing background noise.
AI also helps hearing aids continue to improve as you wear them by learning and adjusting to your needs in real-time.
Starting Your Hearing Health Care Journey
Thanks to advancements in AI, hearing loss prevention, diagnosis, and treatment plans are more accurate and efficient than ever before. If you’re ready to take the next step in your hearing health, call the experts at Midwest Hearing today.