Alexa, How’s My Hearing?

Technology is quickly making itself a central place in our daily lives if it hasn’t already. While smartphones and wearable tech are now more a fact of life than a convenient accessory, voice-controlled home technology systems, such as Amazon’s Alexa are becoming more and more popular.
Alexa and other similar devices are easy and convenient ways to quickly listen to music, podcasts, and the news without ever having to leave your seat or pause what you’re doing. With a simple command, Alexa can play your favorite song or update you on the day’s breaking headlines.
But what if Alexa could also help test your hearing? Thanks to a new app on the Alexa platform, this just might be possible.
The App
The independent UK-based company, Amplify Hearing’s latest venture – the Hearing Screener – is an Amazon Alexa-based app that purports to be able to test your hearing in the comfort of your own home. Through a five-minute hearing test that includes spoken phrases and frequency tones, the Hearing Screener can identify signs of hearing loss, at which point it then recommends booking an appointment with a hearing healthcare professional.
The Hearing Screener’s simplicity and ease of use is its main selling point, as it requires little, if any real effort on the part of the individual. With just a few voice commands, anyone with an Amazon Alexa intelligent virtual assistant system can identify whether or not they might have hearing loss.
Since more than 100 million new Amazon Alexa devices have been sold so far this year alone, the Hearing Screener’s potential reach is huge, making it a prime candidate to revolutionize the world of hearing healthcare. According to Amplify Hearing, the screener has a high rate of accuracy, so it might be able to identify hearing loss in people who are unsure if they should seek out help.
All of this sounds great, of course, but is the Hearing Screener really all it’s cracked up to be?
A Replacement For Hearing Test Appointments?
Although taking a hearing test from the comfort of your own couch sounds pretty luxurious, many hearing healthcare professionals are skeptical about the Hearing Screener. While many hearing healthcare professionals don’t necessarily doubt the accuracy of the at-home Alexa-based hearing test, they do worry that people will use the test as a definitive resource for their hearing healthcare, preferring to take advice from the app rather than see a trained professional.
Since the test is so convenient, many hearing health professionals fear that people will choose not to undergo a professional assessment, thus leading to higher rates of untreated hearing loss. Thus, while the Hearing Screening is poised to help millions learn more about their hearing, it’s important to remember that it’s no substitute for a hearing test that’s administered by a hearing healthcare professional.
Rather, the Hearing Screening is yet another awesome smart technology-powered tool to help people better engage with their own hearing healthcare. As the app is still in its infancy, it will be exciting to see how its technology develops and how the test results factor into individuals’ decisions to see a professional. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one might have hearing loss, a consultation with a hearing healthcare professional can help get you started on your path to a healthier and happier hearing experience