Ask an Expert: What’s New in Hearing Aid Technology?
Hearing aids have come a long way in just a few years. From smarter sound to sleeker designs, see how today’s technology helps provide greater comfort, clarity, and control than ever before.
Published 9/12/2025,
Updated 11/27/2025
2 min read
Reviewed by
HearUSA editorial team
Hearing aidsRecommendedTechnology
Share article
Q: Are hearing aids better now than they were five years ago?
AJ Surrette: Yes, like smartphones, hearing aids are evolving fast. New models typically arrive every one to two years, accompanied by upgrades to devices, apps, and accessories. These improvements are driven by ongoing research and development, with a focus on better speech processing, sound quality, and overall user experience1.
Expert Answer
Many modern premium hearing aids now use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to adapt to different listening environments. They seamlessly connect to smartphones, tablets, and other devices, empowering you with even more control and flexibility. Some apps even let you share feedback and data to help improve your experience in everyday life.
Widex Allure premium hearing aids
Q: What new features are available in hearing aids?
Bluetooth connectivity
Many hearing aids now come with Bluetooth streaming, making it easy to listen to music, podcasts, or calls directly through your devices.
Rechargeable batteries
offer all-day use, often with portable chargers for added convenience.
Directional microphones
help you focus on speech in noisy settings, while AI learns your listening preferences and automatically adjusts to different environments.
Binaural processing
If you wear two hearing aids, binaural processing lets them work together for a more balanced listening experience
More features
You’ll also find features like hands-free calling, remote adjustments through smartphone apps, and support for tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Health and safety
Some models offer health and safety features, such as step tracking, or recognizing if you have a fall.
Future-ready options like Auracast™ will soon allow direct streaming from public sound systems in select public places like airports and lecture halls.
Q: How is AI improving hearing aids?
AJ Surrette: AI in hearing aids helps you hear more clearly and comfortably by automatically adjusting to your surroundings and preferences. Whether you’re in a quiet room or a busy street, your hearing aids can automatically adjust, so you don’t have to think about it.
AI supported hearing aids help you adjust your hearing to your needs
Women meeting regularly for coffee in a café - accompanied by supporting AI hearing aids
Over time, it learns how you prefer to hear in different places – some devices even remember specific locations and adjust when you return.
AI also breaks sound into finer details for better clarity. It makes speech sound clearer and more natural, separates voices from background noise, and focuses on who you’re listening to, reducing distractions. As you use your hearing aids, they keep learning from real-world listening data, improving performance with less need for manual tweaks.
Grandparents enjoying various sound details with AI while playing with their grandson
Q: How has sound quality improved in recent hearing aids?
AJ Surrette: Today’s hearing aids offer clearer sound thanks to faster, smarter sound processing. They can pick out what you want to hear, like speech, and reduce background noise. Features like directional microphones help focus on voices even in noisy places, while noise reduction keeps things clear without cutting out speech. Advanced spatial awareness also helps you locate where sounds are coming from, making listening feel more natural and less tiring.
Find an audiologist near you
Q: How have rechargeable batteries changed hearing aid use?
AJ Surrette: Rechargeable batteries have made hearing aids much easier and more convenient to use. They’re especially helpful for anyone who finds it difficult to handle small batteries.
A full charge gives you all-day power, even with streaming, and many chargers now include built-in dehumidifiers and sanitizers to help protect against moisture and bacteria.
A full charge gives you all-day power, even with streaming, and many chargers now include built-in dehumidifiers and sanitizers to help protect against moisture and bacteria.
Signia Pure Charge&Go AX portable hearing aid charger
Great for you, good for the planet
Rechargeable hearing aids are also more sustainable, reducing battery waste and saving on replacements. Other benefits include quick charging, more consistent sound quality, improved durability, and sealed designs that help prevent corrosion.
Q: Are today’s hearing aids more discreet?
AJ Surrette: Modern hearing aids are sleeker and more discreet than ever, with styles to suit different hearing needs and lifestyles. Some sit invisibly in the ear canal, while others rest behind the ear with slim transparent wires that blend in easily.
The size usually depends on your level of hearing health; smaller models work well for mild hearing loss, while more powerful ones may require a larger design for boosted power. Some devices now resemble wireless earbuds, and others are designed bigger for easier handling. There are also extended-wear options that stay in for weeks without needing daily removal. Plus, smartphone apps let you control settings without touching the device, making the experience seamless.
Discreet Signia Insio ITE AX hearing aids
Sources:
1 SAERA: Hearing Aids: Technological Advancements, Efficacy, and Impact on Hearing-Impaired Individuals (23 January 2025): https://saera.eu/en/2025/01/23/hearing-aids-technological-advancements-efficacy-and-impact-on-hearing-impaired-individuals/
Trends in Hearing: Objective Prediction of Hearing Aid Benefit Across Listener Groups Using Machine Learning: Speech Recognition Performance With Binaural Noise-Reduction Algorithms (2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29692200/
Leader Live: Future Forward: More Connectivity Enhances Hearing Aid Technology (2025): https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.AEA.30032025.Wifi-based-hearing-aid-tech.10/full/
1 SAERA: Hearing Aids: Technological Advancements, Efficacy, and Impact on Hearing-Impaired Individuals (23 January 2025): https://saera.eu/en/2025/01/23/hearing-aids-technological-advancements-efficacy-and-impact-on-hearing-impaired-individuals/
Trends in Hearing: Objective Prediction of Hearing Aid Benefit Across Listener Groups Using Machine Learning: Speech Recognition Performance With Binaural Noise-Reduction Algorithms (2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29692200/
Leader Live: Future Forward: More Connectivity Enhances Hearing Aid Technology (2025): https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.AEA.30032025.Wifi-based-hearing-aid-tech.10/full/
Share article
