Nov 14, 2025 | 12:05 PM
Trivia Question
Q: This was invented in the late 1800’s and being used by more and more Canadians every year. What is it?
A: Hearing aids
The first electric hearing aid was invented in 1898
by Miller Reese Hutchison, who called it the Akouphone. This device used a carbon transmitter to amplify sounds and is recognized as the first electric hearing aid. Before this, simpler, non-electric devices like the ear trumpet had been in use since the 17th century.
1898: The first portable, electric hearing aid, the Akouphone, was invented by Miller Reese Hutchison.
Early 1900s: Hearing aids using carbon transmitters became more common.
1920s: The first vacuum-tube hearing aid, the Vactuphone, was developed by Earl Hanson.
1940s: The invention of the transistor allowed for smaller and more efficient hearing aids.
1996: The first fully digital hearing aid became commercially available.